Chapman, Bichette HR; Jays edge A's 2-1 to snap 5-game skid

Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano, middle, is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) 鈥 Bo Bichette hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied past the Oakland Athletics 2-1 on Wednesday to snap a five-game losing streak.

鈥淲e needed it,鈥 Bichette said. "I think when you鈥檙e trying to stop a skid, sometimes thatsa国际传媒 how it goes, so I thought we fought well today and definitely excited to get the win.鈥

Matt Chapman also homered against his former team for the second straight day. Chapman spent his first five seasons in Oakland before being traded to Toronto in March.

Ram贸n Laureano homered for the Asa国际传媒, who failed to complete their first sweep of the season.

鈥淲e鈥檝e played well against the Blue Jays team this year,鈥 Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. 鈥淯nfortunately, we didn鈥檛 get the win today to get our first sweep and to get our season series to win, but we鈥檝e still got games in front of us.鈥

Laureanosa国际传媒 sixth long ball of the year broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth. Chapman answered with his 13th in the top of the seventh before Bichette hit his 13th an inning later.

"It seems like every time that (Bichette) hits a home run, itsa国际传媒 to go ahead or tie a game," Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. 鈥淚t was good. Hopefully, that gets us going offensively again.鈥

Blue Jays starter Jos茅 Berr铆os pitched six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk. Adam Cimber (8-2) followed with two perfect frames to earn his eighth win, most among major-league relievers.

鈥(I was) feeling pretty good,鈥 Berr铆os said. 鈥淚 was able to go out there and compete and give our team a chance to win, and we did it.鈥

Jordan Romano recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two punch-outs for his 18th save in 21 opportunities.

Oakland starter James Kaprielian blanked Toronto through six innings before serving up the home run to Chapman, one of his best friends, to begin the seventh.

Kaprielian allowed five hits and four walks with one strikeout. It was his 24th consecutive start of six frames or fewer, extending the all-time Asa国际传媒 record.

Domingo Acevedo (1-2) surrendered his seventh homer of the year to suffer his first loss since April 29.

ALLEN FLASHES THE LEATHER

Asa国际传媒 rookie Nick Allen made a pair of dazzling defensive plays at second base in the fourth inning. With Bichette leading off the frame, Allen chased a pop-up into shallow right field and made a leaping catch to take away a hit. Then with two runners on base and two outs, Allen made a spectacular diving stop on a blistering one-hopper to rob Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and keep the game scoreless.

TRAINER鈥橲 ROOM

Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman, who took a comebacker off his right foot Saturday, is expected to miss his scheduled start Thursday. Gausman played catch for a third straight day and could potentially make his next start this weekend.

Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder after an MRI revealed inflammation but no structural damage. He will miss his next start and is considered day-to-day. ... RHP Dany Jim茅nez (strained right shoulder) has played catch out to 90 feet but needs to be stretched out farther over the next week to 10 days.

ROSTER MOVES

The Blue Jays claimed RHP Matt Peacock off waivers from the Kansas City Royals and designated RHP Shaun Anderson for assignment. Toronto also recalled RHP Casey Lawrence and optioned RHP Trent Thornton to Triple-A Buffalo.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: Begin a four-game series in Seattle on Thursday. With Gausman (ankle) expected to miss his start, Toronto has not named a starting pitcher.

Athletics: Following an off-day, RHP Paul Blackburn (6-3, 2.90 ERA) will open a three-game home series against the Houston Astros on Friday.

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