By Canadian Press

Springer, Tapia have 3 RBIs, Blue Jays beat Guardians 8-3

May 7, 2022 | 4:37 PM

CLEVELAND (AP) — George Springer and Raimel Tapia each drove in three runs in the first four innings against Shane Bieber, powering the Toronto Blue Jays to an 8-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.

Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (3-1) worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run, striking out five. The right-hander issued his first walk of the season against his 137th batter, Franmil Reyes in the fourth, after 35 1/3 innings without a free pass.

“I didn’t necessarily feel as sharp today, but we made good pitches and didn’t give up much damage,” Gausman said, adding with a chuckle, “I’m pretty happy, but I was mad the walk came on four straight pitches.”

Toronto scored four runs in the second and three in the fourth off 2020 AL Cy Young winner Bieber (1-2), who gave up a career-high-tying seven runs in 3 1/3 innings. He did not have a strikeout for the first time in 86 career starts and 88 total appearances.

“It was just lack of command, lack of getting ahead, which led to lack of conviction,” Bieber said. “Overall, just pretty frustrating because I didn’t give the team a great chance to win. All in all, my body feels good. It was just a tough one today.”

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Tapia opened the scoring in the second with a two-run single and Springer followed with a double to left, plating Alejandro Kirk and Tapia, as the Blue Jays put five straight on base after two outs.

Rookie Steven Kwan singled in Myles Straw in the third to cut Cleveland’s deficit to 4-1. Straw had a pair of hits and two runs for the Guardians, who have won five of seven since falling a season-low five games below .500 on April 28.

Tapia and Springer added RBI singles and Bo Bichette drove in a run on a grounder in the fourth, extending Toronto’s advantage to 7-1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded his 400th career hit and Kirk had three singles and an RBI.

“The guys did a really good job against a really good pitcher in Bieber,” Gausman said. “That was really the difference-maker. We have such a potent lineup. You’re always just one or two swings away from changing the game.”

The Blue Jays had 10 hits and drew 10 walks against five pitchers. They are 1-1 on a nine-game, 11-day road trip that continues against the Yankees and Rays.

Cleveland played its MLB-high third doubleheader — all at Progressive Field — and has had four home games postponed due to inclement weather, including Friday against Toronto.

BACK IN ACTION

Blue Jays OF Teoscar Hernández (left oblique strain) joined the team in Cleveland and was added to the roster as the 27th man for the doubleheader. The two-time Silver Slugger recipient had been on the injured list since April 14.

Hernández hit .455 with two homers and four RBIs in a three-game rehabilitation assignment with Class A Dunedin that wrapped up Thursday.

“A week ago, my body felt tight, which is why I asked for the extra day before coming back,” he said. “I wanted to feel 100 percent and I wanted to take more at-bats.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: 2B Cavan Biggio (COVID-19 recovery) is working out with Triple-A Buffalo but has not been activated. Biggio, who cleared medical protocols Monday and faced live pitching Wednesday, batted .043 over 23 at-bats for Toronto before falling ill.

Guardians: 1B Yu Chang (COVID-19 recovery) has appeared in four games and is hitting .200 on a rehab assignment split between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron. Chang was placed on the IL before Cleveland’s home opener on April 15.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Ross Stripling (0-0, 3.79 ERA) has only allowed one homer in 19 innings over six appearances in 2022.

Guardians: RHP Triston McKenzie (1-2, 2.70 ERA) has won once in his last eight starts, beating Oakland on May 1.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Brian Dulik, The Associated Press