Schneider's two-run walkoff homer in the 14th inning gives the Jays a 5-3 win over the Pirates

TORONTO – Davis Schneider hit a two-run home run in the 14th inning to give the Toronto Blue Jays a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday at Rogers Centre.

With Cavan Biggio on board as an automatic runner, right-hander Kyle Nicolas got Ernie Clement and Kevin Kiermaier on groundouts.

This set the stage for Schneider, who hit his seventh home run of the season with a first-pitch fastball.

Reliever Genesis Cabrera (2-1) struck out all five batters he faced, helping Toronto (27-29) extend its winning streak to four games.

Andrew McCutchen and Nick Gonzales each had two hits for Pittsburgh (26-31).

After a scoreless 10th inning, both teams scored in the 11th and again in the 12th inning.

Pittsburgh's Ji Hwan Bae made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly after George Springer made a spectacular catch on a Bryan Reynolds drive. Springer then delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the 11th inning that scored Danny Jansen.

In the 12th inning, Connor Joe gave Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly. But Cavan Biggio tied Toronto when he scored on a sacrifice fly from Kevin Kiermaier.

The Blue Jays had all the bases loaded in the 13th inning, but Carmen Mlodzinski caught Biggio trying to end an eight-pitch at-bat.

Toronto starter Jose Berrios allowed six hits and one earned run in seven innings. He struck out five players and lowered his earned run average to 2.78.

Pirates left-hander Bailey Falter tied the Blue Jays in six shutout innings, allowing only a single by Ernie Clement in the third and a single by Kiermaier in the sixth.

The Pirates had two consecutive hits against Berrios in the fifth inning and got on the scoreboard when McCutcheon hit a single that brought Gonzales home.

Falter struck out nine batters in a row before Kiermaier arrived. The speedy outfielder stole second base and Jansen was able to walk, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out, leaving them helpless.

Toronto was gifted a run in the seventh inning when Bae lost a drive by Daniel Vogelbach in the evening sky. The ball bounced off the center field wall and Springer — running into contact with two outs — scored from first base.

Chad Green was the eighth inning pitcher for Toronto. The Blue Jays were dangerous in the second half with two runners on base, but Joe caught a ball from Bo Bichette with a nice sliding catch and kept the game tied.

In the ninth inning, Yimi Garcia walked Oneil Cruz, but he was later thrown out by Jansen after leaning too far away from the bag. Guerrero made the throw with a leap and hit the helmet.

Cruz was originally considered safe, but the decision was overturned after the Blue Jays appealed the decision.

Toronto entered the game last in the American League East, one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox.

The announced attendance was 33,356 and the game lasted three hours and 46 minutes.

MANOAH OUT

Toronto starter Alek Manoah was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day due to a sprained right elbow.

The move was retroactive to Thursday. The Blue Jays also signed reliever Ryan Burr from the Philadelphia Phillies for a cash fee and right-hander Joel Kuhnel for one game.

NEW CLOTHES

The Blue Jays wore their new City Connect uniforms for the first time after unveiling them the night before.

The “Night Mode” jerseys feature a dark base color and the city's name and skyline on the front. They will be worn at night during 15 home games this season.

JOEY BATS

Former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista took part in batting practice and caught some fly balls before the game.

Bautista, who was selected 599th overall in the 2000 draft by the Pirates, made several promotional appearances throughout the day as part of the release of the City Connect uniforms.

Soon

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-4, 3.25 ERA) was scheduled to face right-hander Mitch Keller (6-3, 3.59) for the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon.

The three-game series ends with a matinee on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2024.

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Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press