Alejandro Kirk drove in a run on a long RBI single in the 11th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays topped the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 on Friday night.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was walked intentionally by Ryan Fernandez (1-5) to start the inning, then Leo Jimenez bunted for a single to load the bases. After automatic runner Nathan Lukes was thrown out at home on Will Wagner’s grounder to second, Kirk had his first career walk-off hit on a drive to deep left field.
Erike Swanson (2-2) got the win after pitching the top of the 11th for Toronto (70-78).
Thomas Saggese hit his first major league home run, a solo shot, and had two RBIs for the Cardinals (74-73).
Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed two runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out three in seven innings.
Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde pitched five innings, allowing three runs, six hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
St. Louis opened the game with four consecutive hits to take a 2-0 lead. Masyn Winn singled to right and Alec Burleson singled to left. Paul Goldschmidt broke his bat on a flare single to center that loaded the bases. Nolan Arenado blooped an infield single to center. Another run scored when right fielder Addison Barger’s throw forced Arenado at second after he charged the ball on Saggese’s bloop.
Springer walked to lead off the home fourth, stole second, took third on Lukes’ single and scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s double off the left-field wall. Spencer Horwitz then hit a sacrifice fly to left. Kirk’s single to right gave Toronto a 3-2 lead and extended his hit streak to nine games.
Winn led off the seventh with a double to right center and took third on a groundout. Winn strayed too far off the base and was tagged out on Goldschmidt’s smash to third baseman Guerrero.
Genesis Cabrera allowed Saggese’s homer on a drive to left with one out in the eighth to tie the game at 3. It was his third major league hit.