TORONTO (AP) 鈥� Spencer Steer hit a tiebreaking RBI double in Cincinnati鈥檚 four-run sixth inning, and the Reds beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Monday night to stop a three-game slide.
TJ Friedl hit his 10th homer and finished with three hits for Cincinnati in the opener of a seven-game trip. Ty France had two hits and two RBIs.
The Reds were swept at home by Kansas City over the weekend.
鈥淕etting swept, it鈥檚 never fun, but you move on,鈥� Friedl said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what this team does well. You can鈥檛 dwell on the past.鈥�
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 26th homer for Toronto, and Ernie Clement also went deep. Kevin Gausman (11-9) permitted four runs, three earned, and five hits in five-plus innings in his first loss since July 5.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Gausman deserved a better fate.
鈥淪ome close misses around the zone,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淭hey fouled off, it seemed, like half of his pitches.鈥�
The last-place Blue Jays lost for the third time in four games.
Tyler Stephenson started Cincinnati鈥檚 sixth-inning rally when he reached on a passed ball by Alejandro Kirk on strike three. Friedl then singled, chasing Gausman.
Ryan Burr came on and surrendered Steer鈥檚 tiebreaking double. Jeimer Candelario struck out, but France hit a two-run double and scored on Jake Fraley鈥檚 double. All three doubles off Burr were .
Tony Santillan (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win in relief of Julian Aguiar, who allowed two runs and four hits in four innings in his big league debut.
鈥淗e settled in nicely,鈥� Friedl said of Aguiar. 鈥淗e was filling up the zone, he was attacking early. His stuff looked good from center field. I liked the way he was commanding his pitches.鈥�
The Reds so the 23-year-old right-hander could start in place of .
Reds manager David Bell said Aguiar is likely to make another start while Greene is sidelined.
鈥淗e came in and threw strikes, didn鈥檛 back down at all,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淗e did exactly what we want to see.鈥�
Clement hit a leadoff homer in the ninth against Alexis D铆az, who retired the next three batters to close it out.
Guerrero opened the scoring with in left in the first.
鈥淚 looked back, that ball was long gone,鈥� Aguiar said of Guerrero鈥檚 deep drive. 鈥淚t was a good one. Glad I gave my first one up to him, great experience. Get it out of the way.鈥�
Elly De La Cruz tied it with a sacrifice fly in the third, but Toronto answered in the bottom half when George Springer doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Daulton Varsho鈥檚 single.
Friedl tied it again when he homered off Gausman to begin the fourth. It was his 10th of the season.
ROSTER MOVES
Reds: RHP Casey Legumina was optioned to Triple-A.
Blue Jays: LHP Easton Lucas was claimed off waivers from Detroit and optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Alek Manoah (elbow surgery) was transferred to the 60-day IL.
TRAINER鈥橲 ROOM
Reds: RHP Christian Roa (sprained right shoulder) was recalled from Triple-A and placed on the 60-day IL.
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette (right calf) is scheduled to resume running this week, Schneider said. Bichette has not played since July 19.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Jos茅 Berr铆os (11-9, 3.85 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. Cincinnati had not named a starter.
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AP MLB:
Ian Harrison, The Associated Press
