Blue Jays beat the Pirates 6-2 for their 3rd straight victory

TORONTO (AP) — Kevin Gausman pitched into the seventh inning, Yohendrick Pinango and George Springer had two-run doubles and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

After Springer scored Toronto’s first run in the third inning, Pinango drove in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho in the inning.

Gausman (4-3) settled in after giving up a run in the first inning. The right-hander allowed six hits, one walk and had eight strikeouts.

Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler (1-6) allowed three runs — only one earned — in five innings. The Pirates have lost five of seven to fall to 26-25.

Gausman was pulled with two outs in the seventh inning with two runners in scoring position. Reliever Mason Fluharty then needed one pitch to get Oneil Cruz to fly out.

Pittsburgh had two more runners in the eighth before Toronto manager John Schneider called on closer Louis Varland for a rare six-out save. The Pirates scored on a fielder’s choice, but left the potential tying run at third base when Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out. Varland has seven saves.

Toronto scored three times in the eighth. Jesus Sanchez had an RBI double, and Springer drove in two runs with a ground-rule double.

Toronto improved to 24-27.

RHP Paul Skenes (6-3, 2.63 ERA) was set to start for the Pirates on Saturday against LHP Patrick Corbin (1-1, 4.23).

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

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) reacts during third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Yohendrick Pinango (24) hits a two run RBI double off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer (4) slides into third base against the Pittsburgh Pirates during third inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) works against the Pittsburgh Pirates during first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW DELHI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad.

The visit comes as Washington seeks to stabilize relations with India after ties soured over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which raised duties on several Indian exports.

Much of Rubio’s four-day visit, however, will focus on a multi-city tour, along with a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

“There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said ahead of his visit to India.

Rubio arrived in eastern city of Kolkata early Saturday where he is later scheduled to visit Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa. In coming days, he will also visit northern cities of Agra and Jaipur, known for iconic monuments and palaces.

He is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and is expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Tuesday in New Delhi, Rubio will participate in the ministerial meeting of the Quad that has repeatedly accused China of flexing its military muscles in the South China Sea and aggressively pushing its maritime territorial claims.

Beijing maintains that its military is purely defensive to protect what it says are its sovereign rights and calls the Quad an attempt to contain its economic growth and influence.

After his inauguration in January last year, Rubio’s first formal international engagement was meeting with the foreign ministers of the other Quad countries, both jointly and in separate sessions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards his plane at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)