BASEBALL: Jonatan Clase's first homer of season propels Jays past Giants

Jonatan Clase blasted a three-run home run in his first start of the season as the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak with a 9-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, leveling their three-game road series at one game apiece.

Clase finished with two hits and two runs scored, while Sean Keys drove in two runs and Brandon Valenzuela added two hits as Toronto broke out of its recent offensive struggles with a 13-hit performance. Ernie Clement also contributed three hits for the Blue Jays.

Toronto took control early after Clase launched a three-run homer in the second inning following singles by Valenzuela and Keys. Recently recalled from the minors while George Springer is on paternity leave, Clase was making his first start of the season after appearing as a pinch hitter in Seattle last weekend.

The Giants answered with a run in the bottom of the second on Victor Bericoto's infield single, but the Blue Jays pulled away with a five-run third inning. Six of the seven batters Trevor McDonald faced in the inning singled, with Keys delivering a two-run single, while Valenzuela and Andres Gimenez each added RBI hits. Clement capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

McDonald (3-7) lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits. He walked one batter and did not record a strikeout.

Blue Jays starter Spencer Miles gave up two runs on seven hits over four innings, striking out one. Patrick Corbin (3-4) earned the win after pitching 2 1/3 innings of two-hit relief. He allowed San Francisco's final run on an RBI double by Luis Arraez in the fifth inning.

Toronto added its final run in the ninth when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded into a double play that brought home Clement.

Clase, Keys and Valenzuela each scored twice as the Blue Jays bounced back from a 10-1 loss in Monday's series opener.

For San Francisco, Heliot Ramos collected two hits and scored twice, while Arraez also finished with two hits. The Giants have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games. -Field Level Media/Reuters