Luis Urías hits tiebreaking single in 8th inning as Blue Jays beat slumping Cardinals 3-1

TORONTO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Luis Urías broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 on Friday night.

Cardinals reliever Peter Strzelecki (0-1) exited after one-out walks to George Springer and Daulton Varsho. Gordon Graceffo came on and walked Ernie Clement to load the bases for Urías, who grounded a two-run single through the left side.

Jeff Hoffman (6-7) worked one inning for the win and Louis Varland finished for his 24th save in 24 opportunities as Toronto extended its winning streak over St. Louis to seven games.

The Blue Jays have won five of their past eight games after losing the previous four.

St. Louis lost for the fifth time in six games. The Cardinals went 10-18 in July.

Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single off Dylan Cease in the fifth.

The Blue Jays tied it in the sixth when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto started the inning with back-to-back doubles.

Cease allowed one run and three hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy permitted one run and six hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out three.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but Strzelecki got Guerrero to ground into a double play.

Brandon Valenzuela had three of Toronto’s nine hits.

Cardinals LHP Quinn Matthews is expected to make his major league debut Saturday against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (4-10, 4.51 ERA).

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Leahy (62) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease (84) works against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker watches his RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Nathan Church makes a diving catch on a ball hit by Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement (22) during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates after hitting a double against the St. Louis Cardinals during sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Friday, July 31, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Dillon Dingler hit a grand slam in Detroit's seven-run eighth inning and the Tigers opened their longest trip of the season with a 13-1 victory over the Athletics on Friday night.

Kevin McGonigle homered and drove in two runs, and fellow 2023 draft pick Max Clark had three hits, including an RBI double in the big eighth inning to help Detroit get the win in his big-league debut.

The Tigers got a strong performance from their bullpen after deciding to scratch scheduled starter Casey Mize in case a trade develops before Monday’s deadline. Tyler Holton started and allowed one run in two innings. Ty Madden (1-0) allowed two hits in three scoreless innings to get the win.

The Tigers won for just the second time in six games to start a three-city West Coast swing and moved within 3 1/2 games of the final wild-card spot in the American League.

McGonigle tied the game with a solo homer off Jeffrey Springs (3-11) in the third inning, He added a sacrifice fly in the fourth in an inning aided by Clark's first career hit.

The 21-year-old Clark, one of the top prospects in baseball, then added the RBI double in the eighth and another double in the ninth. He became the third Tigers player ever with at least three hits and two extra-base hits in his debut. McGonigle did it earlier this year and Billy Bean did it in 1987.

Dingler broke the game open against Luis Morales when he hit his first career grand slam. Ben Malgeri hit his first career homer, a two-run shot in the ninth inning as the A's finished 5-19 in July.

Springs allowed four hits, five walks and two runs in four innings and fell to 0-11 in his last 18 starts.

LH Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.53 ERA) was set to start Saturday for Detroit against RH Jack Perkins (2-6, 6.45).

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

Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs throws to the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 31, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tyler Holton throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 31, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Detroit Tigers' Max Clark hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, July 31, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler, not shown, celebrates with Ben Malgeri (53), Kevin McGonigle (7), and Javier Báez, not shown, after hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, July 31, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler hits a grand slam during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Friday, July 31, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)