Right-hander Trey Yesavage pitched a strong 6 2/3 innings Wednesday afternoon and the visiting Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Washington Nationals 5-2.
Yesavage (5-5) allowed one run, three hits and three walks with four strikeouts in the rubber match of a three-game series. Right-hander Louis Varland allowed a walk and a single in two innings to earn his 23rd save.
Kazuma Okamoto had three hits with a two-run double for the Blue Jays, who completed a 3-3 road trip.
Center fielder Daulton Varsho made a leaping catch at the wall on a drive by Brady House in the bottom of the first.
Washington took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. CJ Abrams led off with a walk, advanced to third on two groundouts and trotted home when Jacob Young looped a double to left.
Washington starter Zack Littell allowed no runs, four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Toronto tied the game in the sixth against right-hander Max Kranick. George Springer led off with a walk, took second on a groundout and scored on Ernie Clement’s double to left that a sliding left fielder Daylen Lile just failed to catch. The inning continued when Andres Gimenez was hit by a pitch. Right-hander Eddy Yean replaced Kranick and ended the threat.
Toronto took a 2-1 lead against right-hander Orlando Ribalto (0-2) in the seventh. Okamoto and Alejandro Kirk blooped singles to put runners at the corners with two outs. Okamoto scored when Varsho dribbled an infield hit to third.
The Blue Jays added three in the eighth against righty Paxton Schultz. Davis Schneider doubled with one out and took third on Yohendrick Pinango’s single. Pinch runner Myles Straw stole second and Okamoto flared a two-run double to center that deflected off the glove of a diving Young. Springer stroked an RBI single. Schultz was replaced by Trevor Williams, who returned from the injured list after missing a year with right elbow surgery.
James Wood doubled against Tyler Rogers in the home eighth and scored on Luis Garcia Jr.’s single. Pinch hitter Jose Tena walked. Varland replaced Rogers. Harry Ford walked with one out to load the bases before the inning ended on a strikeout and flyout.
Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not play because of a tight hamstring.
