Danny Jansen and Spencer Horwitz homer, Kevin Gausman pitches Blue Jays past Giants 5-3

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 11, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Godofredo A. Vásquez

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Danny Jansen and Spencer Horwitz homered, Kevin Gausman pitched seven strong innings against his former team and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Thursday.

Gausman (7-8) allowed two runs and six hits with three strikeouts and no walks in his first outing at Oracle Park since pitching for the Giants in 2020-21.

“Lots of special memories, for sure,” Gausman said. “Not many guys I know over there, but I really respect everybody over there a lot.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Justin Turner and Leo Jiménez also drove in runs for Toronto, which took two of three from San Francisco and won for the fourth time in five games.

“I think that we’ve had some great at-bats of late,” Jansen said. “It’s contagious. Just feeding off each other and having an approach as a unit and going out there and hunting balls in the middle of the plate. That’s where the damage is. It was a great game. It was a good series with the bats.”

Toronto's Kevin Kiermaier had two hits and made a diving catch in center field to rob Matt Chapman of a hit in the fourth inning.

Heliot Ramos and Mike Yastrzemski homered for the Giants, who have lost four of five.

Jordan Hicks (4-6) lost his fifth straight decision, allowing five runs and eight hits with one strikeout and one walk in 4 1/3 innings against his former club. Hicks made 25 relief appearances for the Blue Jays last season.

“Just wasn’t great overall,” he said. “Not my best performance. ... I feel like four groundballs got through, besides the two homers. Those are big obviously, but just the groundballs getting through. It's unfortunate, but keep battling."

Jansen connected for his sixth homer to cap a three-run first inning for Toronto. It was his first longball since May 20.

“It definitely felt good,” Jansen said. “Been grinding definitely over the last however many weeks. But still just trying to have good at-bats and pass it on to the next guy. But to be able to square one up, it definitely felt good. Just gonna keep building off of it and keep going.”

Ramos answered with a two-run shot in the bottom half, his team-leading 14th of the season.

Jiménez singled home Davis Schneider in the fourth for his first career RBI, and Horwitz hit his fourth homer of the season in the fifth.

Yastrzemski hit his eighth homer off Chad Green with two outs in the ninth. Green recovered to strike out Wilmer Flores and earned his fifth save.

“It was a pretty complete effort,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I really like the way we came out day after night (game) in the first inning.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was diagnosed with a right calf fascia strain after leaving Wednesday’s game in the fourth inning. Schneider said he was day-to-day but wouldn’t rule out a trip to the injured list. ... OF Daulton Varsho missed the game with a left knee contusion after exiting in the third inning Wednesday. He is considered day-to-day.

Giants: DH Jorge Soler went 1 for 4 after missing two games due to illness. ... 1B LaMonte Wade Jr. was held out with minor hamstring tightness. Manager Bob Melvin said he would likely play Friday.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Yariel Rodríguez (1-3, 3.68 ERA) opens a three-game series at Arizona on Friday night opposite RHP Ryne Nelson (6-6, 5.08).

Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison (4-4, 4.24) tries to snap a three-game losing streak Friday night when San Francisco welcomes the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series. Minnesota counters with RHP Joe Ryan (6-5, 3.29).