Will Brennan had a solo home run, a double and scored two runs and the visiting Cleveland Guardians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday night.
Logan Allen allowed one run in five-plus innings for the Guardians in the opener of the three-game series.
Allen (7-3) allowed three hits and three walks with three strikeouts as the Guardians improved to 4-2 on their eight-game road trip.
The Blue Jays were held to three hits in the opener of a six-game homestand that follows a 3-3 trip.
Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (5-5) allowed three runs and eight hits while striking out six without a walk in 5 1/3 innings.
The Guardians scored once in the second inning. Brennan doubled off the right-field wall with one out and scored on Daniel Schneemann’s double to left center.
After a single and a double play in the fourth, Brennan drove a fastball to left for his sixth home run of the season and a 2-0 Cleveland lead.
The Guardians added a run in the fifth. Brayan Rocchio led off with a double to right and scored on a two-out single to right by Andres Gimenez.
Ernie Clement led off the home sixth with his second double of the game — and Toronto’s second hit — and scored on Davis Schneider’s single to center. Cade Smith replaced Allen to get the next three outs.
Cleveland’s Scott Barlow allowed a two-out walk in the seventh inning and was replaced by Sam Hentges who struck out pinch hitter Alejandro Kirk.
Hunter Gaddis pitched a clean eighth for the Guardians with a strikeout and a good play by Rocchio on Schneider’s grounder to shortstop.
Emmanuel Clase had a perfect bottom of the ninth with a strikeout to earn his 21st save of the season.
Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts and is in an 0-for-17 drought.
Toronto recalled third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday and designated DH Daniel Vogelbach for assignment. Barger did not play on Friday.