Okamoto homers, Gausman goes 6 innings, Varland gets save

TORONTO-- 

Kazuma Okamoto's bat stayed hot with another home run, Kevin Gausman earned his second win of the season, and Louis Varland earned his second save as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-3 on Saturday. 

Kevin Gausman was impressive in his longest outing of the season, going 6 2/3 innings.

Blue Jays head coach John Schneider spoke about the starting pitcher's abilities not only to start and help the team every five days on the mound, but also how he helps the entire rotation. 

“Kevin is so good, so consistent… I thought he pitched really, really well,” coach Schneider said. “Kev has turned into our ace overtime, he probably has been for a while. When you get him going, pitching into the seventh inning pretty efficiently today, it makes everything that much easier not only for the game that he's starting, but for the next day too.” 

With the Blue Jays' pitching rotation going through so many injuries early into the season, games like today, where Gausman can pitch well and deep into games, are that much more significant for Toronto. 

Right-hander Gausman (2-1, 2.54) gave up two runs, six hits, and got three strikeouts in his 6 2/3 innings pitched. Mason Fluharty and Tyler Rogers came in for relief, and then Louis Varland closed the game. 

Gausman himself spoke on his approach and how important his delivery is when it comes to throwing strikes. 

“Clean delivery allows me to throw more strikes, be more in the zone,” said Gausman. “Outside of that, it's about pitching. I feel like when I can have them thinking it's going to be a strike every pitch, thats when I can get them chasing the split.” 

Even with Gausman coming off a season where he ranked inside the top ten of innings pitched in the Major Leagues, coach Schneider was able to offer some insight on how his ace has remained ready to play deep into games this season. 

“He came in in really good shape, he tends to lose weight over the course of the season, I think he did a good job of putting some back on and putting himself in a good position,” coach Schneider said. “I think it's just a veteran guy knowing what to do, knowing how to take care of himself, it's not easy.”  

Left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 3.20) pitched 5.0 innings, gave up six hits, four runs, a walk, and got four strikeouts. Matt Festa, Peyton Pallette, and Connor Brogdon came in for relief for the Guardians. 

Juan Brito got a lead-off double in the top of the third for the Guardians (15-13), first hit of the game. Brito advanced to third after Mississauga native Bo Naylor grounded out.  

Brayan Rocchio got a hit to shallow infield, and Gimenez tried to make a play at home but lost control of the ball, allowing Brito home to score as the Guardians opened the scoring. 

Okamoto hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season, and second in as many games against the Guardians, in the bottom of the fourth inning to even the game at one. 

In the bottom of the sixth, the Jays' bats were starting to get the better of Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got a lead-off single, stole second, and Kazuma Okamoto got a single, Cantillos' night was over, and right-hander Matt Festa came in for relief with base runners on first and third. 

The second batter Festa faced was Daulton Varsho. Varsho got an RBI single to right field, bringing Okamoto to third, and Guerrero Jr. home, for the Jays' first lead of the game, 2-1. 

Varsho stole second with two outs, and Gimenez hit a base-clearing RBI double, bringing Varsho and Okamoto home, as the Jays took a 4-1 lead. 

Fluharty entered the game in the seventh inning with two outs and a two-run lead and struck out Naylor to end the inning.   

Guardians' reliever Pallette came into the game in the bottom of the seventh. 

Straw and Clement hit back-to-back singles to open the inning. Guerrero and Okamoto both walked, bringing Straw home to extend the Jays' lead to 5-2. 

Potential new Jays closer, Louis Varland, earned his second big league save this year after he got

out of a difficult situation with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. 

Varland struck out the last two batters of the game as Toronto was able to hold off the potential Guardians comeback. 

Coach Schneider spoke on his confidence in Varland and his mentality to get the most important outs of the game.  

 “I think that whenever you're coming into a situation like that for the first time, there's a bit of extra adrenaline,” Coach Schneider said. “I think getting the strikeout with one out was huge to stop the momentum, and I think that Louis has the mentality to do that.” 

The three-game series between the Jays and the Guardians ends tomorrow afternoon at 1:37 at the Rogers Centre.