Daulton Varsho's 3-run homer keys Blue Jays' 5-2 win over Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Daulton Varsho hit a three-run homer and José Berríos pitched six scoreless innings to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Berríos (4-0) allowed six hits, struck out six and lowered his ERA to 0.85. He has won all four of his starts for Toronto, which has six victories in its last seven games.

“I feel more comfortable, more confident,” Berríos said. “I think this has been a pretty special start to the season.”

Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Varsho’s home run off Randy Vásquez (0-1) capped a three-run first inning for the Blue Jays, with all the runs unearned after a throwing error by Padres third baseman Graham Pauley.

“I just saw a good pitch I could hit and took a chance," Varsho said of his homer. "It is about being able to slow it down and square it up because you can get big and miss it real quick. I have a better understanding of where my swing is at, not missing my pitch when it is there.”

It was Varsho’s third homer in the last three games. He homered, doubled and singled in four at-bats, stole a base, and made an outstanding running catch.

“He is really playing at a high level right now,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “His swing is in a really good spot.”

Vásquez, who was added to the roster Saturday from Triple-A El Paso, allowed four runs — one earned — and four hits in four innings in his first big league game of the season.

The Padres, who have scored just four runs in the past three games trailed 4-0 in the fifth inning. San Diego had a prime chance against Berríos, but Manny Machado hit a first-pitch infield popup with two outs and the bases loaded to end the scoring opportunity.

“We had a plan — we executed it,” Berríos said of getting Machado out. “Tonight I was feeling strong, good command with my sinker on both sides of the plate.”

Erik Swanson gave up a run in the eighth, but quelled the Padres' rally by inducing Eguy Rosario into a groundout with two outs and runners on second and third to preserve the Blue Jays' 4-2 lead.

Padres manager Mike Shildt and left fielder Jurickson Profar were both ejected in the first by plate umpire Ramon De Jesus. Profar threw his bat down violently near home plate after chucking his helmet immediately after being called out on a third strike, which led to the ejection.

Shildt came out to argue and got in a shouting match with De Jesus and was subsequently tossed and then had extended words for umpire crew chief Adrian Johnson.

“I didn’t say anything,” Profar said of the ejection. “I turned around and slammed my bat and threw my helmet, and I was gone.”

It was Profar's third career ejection and Shildt's 11th.

“Frustrated with the borderline pitch. Looking to compete. Again, not making excuses for anything that we’re doing, because clearly, it’s about what we do,” Shildt said. “But (Profar) took exception with it. Didn’t say anything and, understandably, you’re allowed to take exception. You know, the bat, it went straight down. It wasn’t at anybody, and then he was ejected.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: RHP Chad Green was put on the 15-day IL, retroactive to April 17, with a right teres major strain. ... RHP Nate Pearson was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Padres: Vásquez filled in for Yu Darvish, who was placed on the IL with neck tightness. ... RHP Logan Gillaspie was optioned to El Paso. ... Pauley was recalled from El Paso, while IF Matthew Batten was sent down.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (2-2, 4.03) takes the mound on Sunday in the final game of the series against RHP Joe Musgrove (2-2, 6.29).

—

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios works against a San Diego Padres batter during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jurickson Profar, above, argues with first base umpire Adrian Johnson, left, as San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, below center, is ejected by home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus, right, during the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. Both Profar and Shildt were ejected. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jurickson Profar, right, reacts after being ejected by home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho, left, celebrates with third base coach Carlos Febles after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho, above, celebrates with third base coach Carlos Febles after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays' Isiah Kiner-Falefa scores from third base on a wild pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios works against a San Diego Padres batter during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho, left, celebrates with teammates Vladimir Guerrero Jr., center, and Bo Bichette, after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins agreed to sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was not finalized.

NFL Network first reported the agreement, which is expected to be worth up to $8.25 million, the network reported.

Beckham, 31, will join his fifth team after previously playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore, Cleveland, and the New York Giants, who drafted him 12th overall in 2014. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams during the 2021-22 season.

Beckham is joining a Dolphins group with last year's receiving yards leader Tyreek Hill and his speedy counterpart Jaylen Waddle. Hill and Waddle combined for more yards (2,813) than any other wide receiver duo in the NFL in 2023, but Miami had depth concerns at wide receiver beyond those two.

Beckham, who had 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns with Baltimore last season, was cut by the Ravens in March. He visited the Dolphins earlier in the offseason and was made an offer, but the two sides hadn't yet come to an agreement.

“Things went great with him,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said in March. "We did make him an offer and business takes time, especially with players like Odell, who’s had a phenomenal career and still has really good football in front of him and has options. I’m definitely ready to coach him if we can come to an agreement, and I think both sides are trying to work towards that. We’ll see what happens.”

Beckham established himself as one of the league's most talented receivers in his first three seasons with the Giants. He had three straight 1,300-plus yard seasons after New York selected him out of LSU and caught one of the most memorable touchdowns in NFL history when he extended his body, leaping backward and reaching as far as he could with one hand to haul in a 43-yard pass from Eli Manning his rookie season.

Beckham was traded to the Browns in 2019 and spent two seasons there before joining the Rams, where he caught a touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVI before going down with an ACL injury that sidelined him the entire 2022 season.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) works out before the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. The Miami Dolphins agreed to sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday, May 3, 2024.(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)