The Pittsburgh Pirates and Mitch Keller fell into a 5-0 hole and couldn’t dig out as they lost to Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

How We Got There

The Blue Jays scored three runs in the first inning off Keller when Alejandro Kirk hit an RBI single and Nathan Lukes followed with a two-run double. George Springer blasted a two-run home run 423 feet to center field in the second inning to make it 5-0.

The Pirates got a run back in the bottom of the second on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s groundout with one out and the bases loaded. However, Scherzer (4-2) avoided any further damage and allowed only one run in six innings while notching his 220th career win.

Kirk had three hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning off Colin Holderman to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to 7-1. The Blue Jays have the best record in the American League at 74-53.

The Pirates (53-74) scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings but lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games.

Keller (5-12) was tagged for five runs in 3 1/3 innings after giving up six runs in four innings in a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in his previous start.

Key Moment

Despite trailing by five runs, the Pirates had a chance to get back into the game when they loaded the bases with none out in the second. However, they managed only one run as Jared Triolo struck out, Kiner-Falefa grounded out, and Ronny Simon popped out.

Player of the Game

Scherzer allowed one run and four hits in six innings. The three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out four and walked three.

Stat to Know

Keller recorded his 800th career strikeout when he punched out Ernie Clement in the first inning.

Notable Performances

–Bryan Reynolds, Nick Gonzales, and Joey Bart had two hits each for the Pirates. Simon and Jack Suwinski also drove in runs.

–Yohan Ramirez relieved Keller in the fourth inning and retired all nine batters he faced. The right-hander had three strikeouts.

Noteworthy

–Left-handed reliever Ryan Borucki was released. He had been designated for assignment last Friday after going 1-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 35 games this season.

The 31-year-old has a 15-12 record and 4.36 ERA in 183 career games (21 starts) over eight seasons with the Blue Jays (2018-22), Seattle Mariners (2022), and Pirates (2023-25).

–Two relievers, left-hander Tim Mayza and right-hander Justin Lawrence, began rehab assignments with Low-A Bradenton. Mayza has been on the injured list since April 19 with a left shoulder lat muscle strain, and Lawrence has been out since April 23 because of right elbow inflammation.

Mayza pitched 0.2 scoreless inning and allowed two hits while striking out one. Lawrence struck out three and walked one in one hitless inning.

Up Next

Johan Oviedo (0-0, 18.00) is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to start for the Pirates in Wednesday’s finale of the three-game series. Chris Bassitt (11-9, 4.22) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays. First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m.