TORONTO, ON — Canadians Cal Quantrill and Josh Naylor crossed the border and led the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-0 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.
Quantrill pitched seven shutout innings and won his fifth straight decision, and Naylor hit a two-run home run as the surging Guardians won their sixth straight.
On Sitcom Night in Toronto, there was little for a big crowd of 41,677 to laugh at. Cleveland’s José Ramirez hit a three-run home run, his 22nd, and finished with four RBIs as the Guardians roughed up Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos.
Toronto has lost three straight and six of eight.
Quantrill, whose father Paul pitched for the Blue Jays, is from Port Hope, about 60 miles east of Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario. Naylor is from Mississauga, the city immediately west of Toronto.
Quantrill (9-5) allowed one hit, walked none and struck out seven. The AL Central leaders have won each of Quantrill’s last seven starts.
Eli Morgan gave up a two-out double in the eighth and Nick Sandlin pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth to complete the three-hitter.
Berríos (8-5) allowed eight runs and eight hits in four innings, losing for the first time in 12 home starts in 2022.
Quantrill retired the first 10 batters in order before Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled in the fourth, extending his career-best hitting streak to 21 games. Quantrill finished his outing by setting down the next 11 in a row.
Berríos hit Austin Hedges with one out in the second, Will Benson singled and Steven Kwan loaded the bases with a bunt single that rolled 45 feet along the third base line before bumping into the bag.
Amed Rosario hit a two-run single, Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly and Naylor homered to left, his 15th, to cap a five-run inning.
Berríos walked two batters in the third before Ramirez connected on a changeup that was well below the strike zone.
It’s the second time this season that Berríos has allowed eight earned runs. He also did it in a June 26 loss at Milwaukee. He allowed a career-worst nine earned runs against Atlanta on Aug. 6, 2019, while pitching for Minnesota.
Berríos went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in six July starts, but is 0-1 with a 15.25 ERA through two starts this month. He has a 5.61 ERA through 23 starts, worst among qualified MLB pitchers.
Ramirez went 3 for 3 with a walk. He was replaced by pinch runner Tyler Freeman after an infield single in the eighth. Ramirez singled to right in the first against a four-man outfield.
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