Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run double with no outs in the ninth inning for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, who stopped a season-worst five-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.
Devin Williams (0-2) blew his first save in five chances by not getting an out in the ninth with the Yankees nursing a 2-1 lead. He allowed a single to George Springer and hit Andres Gimenez with a pitch. Kirk then gave Toronto a 3-2 lead by hitting a 1-0 changeup over center fielder Trent Grisham’s head, and Williams gave way to Mark Leiter Jr.
Williams was charged with a third run when Addison Barger added an RBI single off Leiter. Williams has an 11.25 ERA in his first 10 appearances with the Yankees, and he heard loud boos when exiting the mound.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered in the sixth off Tim Hill for a 1-0 lead for the Blue Jays, who had nine hits — matching their total from a three-game sweep in Houston.
Oswaldo Cabrera hit a tying single in the seventh through a drawn-in infield as the Yankees lost for the third time in four games. New York had 10 hits, went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 in its first of nine straight games against AL East opponents.
The Yankees then seized a 2-1 lead when Austin Wells hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the eighth off eventual winning pitcher Mason Fluharty (1-0). Fluharty kept the deficit at 2-1 by retiring Cabrera to end the inning.
Jeff Hoffman allowed a two-out double to Ben Rice before converting his sixth save in as many chances by retiring Paul Goldschmidt on a popout.
Toronto’s Jose Berrios allowed five hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out four and walked two.
New York’s Carlos Carrasco allowed three hits in five scoreless innings. He fanned two and issued a pair of walks.