Kirk hits winning single in 10th, Blue Jays rally past Red Sox 7-6 in Giolito's return

TORONTO (AP) — Alejandro Kirk hit a game-ending, bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays overcame a six-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 in Lucas Giolito's return on Wednesday night, stopping a three-game losing streak.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started the 10th as the automatic runner on second, Justin Slaten (0-1) intentionally walked Daulton Varsho and George Springer with one out and Kirk singled to left.

Jeff Hoffman (3-0) struck out three in two hitless innings.

Anthony Santander tied the score in the seventh with his fourth home run this season, a three-run drive off Garrett Whitlock.

Kirk and Varsho started the rebound from a 6-0 deficit with back-to-back homers in the sixth off Giolito, who made his Red Sox debut more than 15 months after signing a a $38.5 million. two-year contract, Giolito didn’t pitch last season because of a partial tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, then had been sidelined since spring training due to a strained left hamstring.

Toronto began the night with 16 homers, 29th among the 30 teams, and hit three homers in a game for the first time this season.

Yariel Rodríguez's run-scoring balk and Alex Bregman's seventh homer built a 2-0 lead in the first, and Jarren Duran hit an RBI single in the second and scored on Rafael Devers' double. Carlos Narváez stretched the lead to 6-0 with a two-run homer off Chad Green in the sixth.

Kirk lined a single over Jarren Duran to end the game.

Toronto scored more than four runs for the first time since a 6-3 win over Atlanta on April 15.

Red Sox RHP Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.58 ERA) is expected to start against Toronto RHP José Berríos (1-1, 4.24) on Thursday.

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

Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette, left, leads off first base as Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) throws in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in first inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Boston Red Sox's Carlos Narvaez (75) celebrates hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in sixth inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr, left, and Anthony Santander (25) celebrate after Santander hit a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in seventh inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Anthony Santander (25) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in seventh inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30) hits a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30) hits a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk, centre facing, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30) runs to first base after hitting a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving 10 people accused of cyberbullying French first lady Brigitte Macron by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, allegations her daughter said damaged her health and family life.

The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are accused of posting “numerous malicious comments” falsely claiming that President Emmanuel Macron ’s wife was born a man and linking the 24-year age gap with her husband to pedophilia. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.

Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October.

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about what she described as the “deterioration” of her mother’s life since the online harassment intensified. “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,” Auzière told the court. She said the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.

Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and an author, is considered as having played a major role in spreading the rumor after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humor or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. They face up to two years in prison if convicted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Brigitte Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Emmanuel Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.

FILE - French President's wife Brigitte Macron arrives ahead of the ceremony outside "La Belle Equipe" bar, Thursday Nov. 13, 2025 in Paris as part of ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP, File)