Mets play long ball in 3-0 win over sluggish Blue Jays

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) celebrates his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays with Brett Baty (7) during fifth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman struck out seven over six innings, but one of his five hits was a solo homer from Francisco Alvarez, all the runs needed in a 3-0 win for the New York Mets on Tuesday.

Luis Torrens followed Alvarez’s leadoff 415-foot blast to centre field in the fifth inning with a homer to right in the seventh off reliever Mason Fluharty as the Blue Jays (40-46) dropped their seventh in eight outings before 41,538 at Rogers Centre.

Gausman (4-7) was coming off two horrific outings in which he surrendered seven and six runs, respectively, to the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers. He was sharper in this 96-pitch effort, walking only two.

Mets rookie starter Nolan McLean (5-5) was a smidgen better. He lasted six shutout innings, giving up only five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

The Blue Jays only advanced one runner to second base, a two-out double from Daulton Varsho in the fourth. They had only one hit in the final four innings.

The Mets (36-50) added a run with a Brett Baty sacrifice fly in the ninth. Closer Devin Williams notched his 12th save for a one-hit ninth.

Toronto was blanked for the fourth time in 2026. The Mets (36-50) won for just the second time in 11 games. Only three teams (Colorado, San Francisco and Kansas City) in Major League Baseball have fewer wins.

TAKEAWAYS

Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched 102 minutes before game time, citing back tightness. This allowed rookie Sean Keys to make his second start since being promoted from triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Mets: Bo Bichette ended a 0-for-7 stretch, including a 0-for-4 series opener, with a sharp single to right field in the fourth inning. He enjoyed a strong game defensively at third base.

KEY MOMENT

With Mets on second and third base and one out, Gausman fanned Canadian Jared Young of Prince Albert, B.C., and A.J. Ewing to end the fourth-inning threat and keep the game scoreless.

KEY STAT

Gausman hasn’t registered a win since May 22.

UP NEXT

Initially, lefty Patrick Corbin (2-4) was to face Mets righty Freddy Peralta (5-6) in the series rubber-match on Wednesday afternoon, the final outing in the Blue Jays’ 10-game homestand. But Toronto plans to move Corbin to the bullpen, which will likely open a spot for Spencer Miles (3-1) on Canada Day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2026.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press