Bichette gets tiebreaking hit in eighth, Blue Jays beat Nationals 5-3 for 3rd straight win

TORONTO (AP) — Bo Bichette hit a tiebreaking two-run single with two out in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays won their third straight game by beating the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays finished with 12 hits, all singles.

Bichette bounced an 0-2 pitch from Washington left-hander Jose A. Ferrer (0-1) down the first base line to drive in George Springer and Will Wagner.

Chad Green (1-0) got one out for the win and Jeff Hoffman finished with a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save in two opportunities.

Toronto’s José Berríos allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out eight.

Washington starter Trevor Williams allowed three runs and 10 hits in five innings. He walked none and struck out three.

Springer, Ernie Clement and Alan Roden all hit RBI singles in Toronto’s three-run second.

Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz hit a two-run single off Berríos in the sixth and CJ Abrams tied it with an RBI double off left-hander Mason Fluharty, making his major league debut, in the seventh.

Abrams went 3 for 4 with two doubles and scored a run.

Springer singled to begin the eighth and Ferrer fumbled Wagner’s sacrifice bunt, putting runners at first and second. Clement sacrificed and pinch-hitter Davis Schneider struck out before Bichette’s tiebreaking hit.

Williams has allowed three runs or fewer in 16 consecutive starts, the second-longest streak of its kind in modern Nationals history. Max Scherzer made 17 straight starts with three or fewer runs allowed for Washington in 2019.

The Blue Jays had not named a starter to face Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (0-0, 0.00 ERA) in Wednesday's series finale.

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Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams (5) and Jacob Young (30) celebrate after scoring in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Nationals' Trevor Williams works during first inning of a baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays, in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Berrios works during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Berrios works during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Berrios works during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Nationals' Trevor Williams works during first inning MLB baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays, in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Nationals' Alex Call (17) is out at second as Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez, right, throws to first base to turn the double play during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, left, looks on. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Nationals' Alex Call (17) is out at second as he collides with Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez, top, turning the double play during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, left, looks on. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez (0) looks over at the Washington Nationals dugout as he crosses the plate to score in front of catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette (11) gets out of the way of an inside pitch in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Toronto, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday asked lawmakers to approve reforms to the oil industry that would open the doors to greater foreign investment during her first state of the union speech less than two weeks after its longtime leader was toppled by the United States.

Rodríguez, who has been under pressure by the Trump administration to fall in line with its vision for the oil-rich nation, said sales of Venezuelan oil would go to bolster crisis-stricken health services, economic development and other infrastructure projects.

She outlined a distinct vision for the future, straying from her predecessors, who have long railed against American intervention in Venezeula. “Let us not be afraid of diplomacy” with the U.S., said Rodriguez, the former vice president who must now navigate competing pressures from the Trump administration and a government loyal to former President Nicolás Maduro.

The speech, which was broadcast on a delay in Venezuela, came one day after Rodríguez said her government would continue releasing prisoners detained under Maduro in what she described as “a new political moment” since his ouster.

On Thursday, Trump met at the White House with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, whose political party is widely considered to have won 2024 elections rejected by Maduro. But in endorsing Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president since 2018, Trump has sidelined Machado.

Rodríguez, who had a call with Trump earlier this week, said Wednesday evening on state television that her government would use “every dollar” earned from oil sales to overhaul the nation’s public health care system. Hospitals and other health care facilities across the country have long been crumbling, and patients are asked to provide practically all supplies needed for their care, from syringes to surgical screws.

The acting president must walk a tightrope, balancing pressures from both Washington and top Venezuelan officials who hold sway over Venezuela's security forces and strongly oppose the U.S. Her recent public speeches reflect those tensions — vacillating from conciliatory calls for cooperation with the U.S., to defiant rants echoing the anti-imperialist rhetoric of her toppled predecessor.

American authorities have long railed against a government they describe as a “dictatorship,” while Venezuela’s government has built a powerful populist ethos sharply opposed to U.S. meddling in its affairs.

For the foreseeable future, Rodríguez's government has been effectively relieved of having to hold elections. That's because when Venezuela’s high court granted Rodríguez presidential powers on an acting basis, it cited a provision of the constitution that allows the vice president to take over for a renewable period of 90 days.

Trump enlisted Rodríguez to help secure U.S. control over Venezuela’s oil sales despite sanctioning her for human rights violations during his first term. To ensure she does his bidding, Trump threatened Rodríguez earlier this month with a “situation probably worse than Maduro.”

Maduro, who is being held in a Brooklyn jail, has pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking charges.

Before Rodríguez’s speech on Thursday, a group of government supporters was allowed into the presidential palace, where they chanted for Maduro, who the government insists remains the country’s president. “Maduro, resist, the people are rising,” they shouted.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez makes a statement to the press at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez, center, smiles flanked by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, right, and National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez after making a statement to the press at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)