Blue Jays’ bats come alive early as Toronto pounds out 14 hits in victory over Brewers | CBC Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays were quick to set the tone in their three-game series opener against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, scoring early and often in a 7-2 victory at Rogers Centre.

Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits apiece and Whit Merrifield drove in a pair of runs for the Blue Jays, who scored four times in the first inning for a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“Today was a perfect example of doing things that we’re good at,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “It was good starting pitching, it was clean defence and really good at-bats.”

Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi (6-2) gave up a two-run homer to William Contreras in the opening frame but settled in after that, allowing just three hits over five innings.

The left-hander issued five walks and had four strikeouts, including the 500th of his career.

“Obviously it wasn’t my A-game today,” Kikuchi said via an interpreter. “But I just battled out there and gave it my all.”

Cavan Biggio and Merrifield each had a pair of hits for the Blue Jays, who outhit Milwaukee 14-4.

Brewers starter Adrian Houser (1-1) lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs, 11 hits and three walks. He had three strikeouts.

With the roof open on a glorious spring evening, the Blue Jays gave the Rogers Centre crowd of 32,930 something to cheer about in the early going.

Guerrero and Matt Chapman delivered RBI singles in the first inning and Merrifield sent a roller down the third-base line to bring home two more runs.

“Any four-run inning in a nine-inning game is going to be tough to come back from,” said Brewers manager Craig Counsell.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with nobody out in the second. Kirk scored on a fielder’s choice and Brandon Belt added an RBI single.

Toronto right-hander Nate Pearson had four strikeouts over two shutout innings. Adam Cimber, Tim Mayza and Yimi Garcia also made relief appearances.

The Blue Jays (29-26) have a better record but started the day in last place in the powerhouse American League East.

Baseball’s hits leader, Bo Bichette, had his eight-game hitting streak come to an end. He was the only Toronto starter without a hit.

Milwaukee shortstop Andruw Monasterio singled in the second inning for his first big-league hit.

The game took two hours 31 minutes to play.