Springer hits 65th leadoff homer as Blue Jays hand Skenes back-to-back defeats, beat Pirates 5-2

TORONTO (AP) — George Springer hit his 65th leadoff home run and the Toronto Blue Jays sent Paul Skenes to losses in consecutive starts for the first time this season, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Saturday for their fourth straight win and seventh in 10 games.

Skenes (6-4), the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed four runs and a career-high nine hits and one walk in five-plus innings with two strikeouts, just his second time with fewer than five this season. His ERA rose to 3.00.

Skenes left after giving up four straight hits in the sixth. In his previous outing, against Philadelphia on May 17, Skenes tied his big league high by giving up five runs .

Tyler Heineman also homered for the defending AL champions, his first since last July 19.

Patrick Corbin (2-1) allowed one run and five hits in six innings with a season-high seven strikeouts. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save in eight chances.

Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy and manager Don Kelly were ejected in separate incidents in the sixth. Murphy was tossed after plate umpire Alan Porter initially missed a challenge request from catcher Henry Davis, while Kelly was tossed for arguing a checked swing call.

Springer homered on Skenes’ third pitch of the game, snapping the right-hander’s 15-inning road scoreless streak. Springer has five homers this season and is second in leadoff homers by 81 by Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.

Marcell Ozuna’s two-out RBI double tied the score in the sixth, and the Blue Jays took a 4-1 lead in the bottom half on Jesús Sánchez's run-scoring double, Ernie Clement's RBI single and a run-scoring, double-play grounder by Andrés Giménez.

Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease (3-2, 2.98 ERA) is scheduled to face Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (4-2, 3.86) in Sunday’s series finale.

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

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez (0) misses a ground ball off the bat of Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan Reynolds during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Patrick Corbin (46) throws to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s king on Saturday granted an official pardon to 18 Senegalese soccer fans jailed over hooliganism linked to a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final that saw supporters attempt to storm the field, the Royal Cabinet said.

The 18 Senegalese fans were sentenced in February to prison terms of up to a year on charges including damaging sporting facilities and committing violence during a sporting event. Some have already completed their sentences.

“Given the long-standing fraternal ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Senegal, and on the occasion of (Muslim holiday) Eid al-Adha, King Mohammed VI has graciously granted, for humanitarian reasons, his royal pardon to Senegalese supporters convicted of offenses committed during Africa Cup of Nations competitions,” the Royal Cabinet said in a statement.

During the final game of the tournament in January, Senegalese fans attempted to storm the field and Senegalese players walked off in protest over a late penalty awarded to host Morocco.

Senegal eventually won the game 1-0 and lifted the trophy, but in an unprecedented series of events, the Confederation of African Football stripped Senegal of the title and declared Morocco the champion. Senegal later said it had appealed the decision.

The final and its aftermath prompted senior officials in both countries to call for calm during a surge in what rights groups in Morocco described as “hate speech targeting sub-Saharan residents.” The leaders of Morocco and Senegal pledged to maintain friendly ties and signed dozens of agreements aimed at boosting trade and investment.

In Morocco, the king, as head of state, has the authority to grant pardons and release prisoners. Each year, on some religious and national holidays, he issues royal pardons that free or reduce the sentences of thousands of inmates, including journalists, activists and others convicted of various offenses.

“Our compatriots detained in Morocco (...) will soon be reunited with their families, thanks to the Royal Grace that His Majesty King Mohammed VI has graciously granted,” Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye wrote on X. The Senegalese fans were expected to leave Morocco immediately.

The pardons came less than 24 hours after the Senegalese president dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko following months of tension between the two, leading to the resignation of all the members of the government and its dissolution.

In a recent speech, Sonko said Africa has 55 states, a remark in Morocco that was widely interpreted as a reference to the independence of Western Sahara. Morocco claims the territory, while the Polisario Front, based in Algeria, seeks independence for the region. The dispute remains a central issue in Morocco’s foreign policy. Some observers saw Saturday's pardons as a gesture of support for President Faye amid his rift with his former prime minister.

“His Majesty the King presents His sincere wishes to His Brother His Excellency President Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to the authorities and to the brotherly Senegalese people,” the royal statement added.

Senegalese authorities had requested a pardon, according to a Senegalese official with knowledge of the matter. One of the lawyers representing the fans told The Associated Press that he separately also requested clemency on their behalf. They both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.

The Senegalese official said human rights commissions in both Morocco and Senegal helped mediate the pardons.

FILE - Senegal supporters clash with security services after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco late on during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi, File)

FILE - Morocco's King Mohammed VI arrives at the Elysee Palace to meet France's President Francois Hollande in Paris, May 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)