Shane Bieber pitched six strong innings Saturday afternoon and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Chicago White Sox 1-0.
Bieber (1-1) allowed three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in his fifth start of the season. George Springer’s RBI single in the fourth against Davis Martin (9-5) was the difference in the game.
Louis Varland pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout to earn his 20th save and end Toronto’s three-game losing streak. The White Sox had won four straight.
The teams have split the first two of a three-game series, with the White Sox leading the season series 4-1.
During a pregame ceremony, the 1992-93 Blue Jays, who won back-to-back World Series titles, were honored. There was also the unveiling of a statue honoring Joe Carter’s ninth-inning World Series-winning homer in 1993.
Martin retired eight batters in a row before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled off the center field wall with one out in the fourth. Springer then grounded an RBI single up the middle to give the Blue Jays the lead.
Meanwhile, Bieber survived a leadoff double and a walk in the fourth and a leadoff double in the fifth.
The Blue Jays failed to capitalize on a single, a stolen base and a walk in their fifth.
Martin walked Guerrero to lead off the sixth before striking out the next two batters. Sean Newcomb replaced Martin and allowed Daulton Varsho’s double off the wall in right-center. Alejandro Kirk was intentionally walked to load the bases before Andres Gimenez grounded out to end the threat.
Martin allowed one run, four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Jeff Hoffman took over in the seventh from Bieber and pitched around a leadoff walk with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Chase Meidroth led off the White Sox eighth with a bunt single against Tyler Rogers. Pinch runner Luisangel Acuna was caught stealing and Rogers finished the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.
Toronto recalled right-hander Lazaro Estrada and left-hander Brendon Little from Triple-A Buffalo. Left-hander Adam Macko and right-hander CJ Van Eyk were optioned to Buffalo.
