Kirk’s 11th inning hit lifts Blue Jays over Cardinals 4-3

On Friday night, the Toronto Blue Jays faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of a three-game series. The game was tightly contested, with the Cardinals initially taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to singles from their first four batters and a fielder's choice. However, the Blue Jays responded in the fourth inning, scoring three runs, highlighted by an RBI double from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a two-out single from Alejandro Kirk. As the game progressed, the Cardinals managed to tie the score in the eighth inning with a solo home run from rookie Thomas Saggese, marking his first career home run. The game remained tied until the 11th inning, when the Blue Jays capitalized on a bases-loaded situation. After an intentional walk to Guerrero, Leo Jiménez advanced the runners with a bunt single, setting the stage for Kirk's decisive hit. Kirk's single to deep left field off right-hander Ryan Fernandez not only secured the victory for the Blue Jays but also marked the first game-winning hit of his career. The win improved Toronto's record to 3-7 in September, while the Cardinals, who had been strong against AL East teams, faced a setback in this matchup. Erik Swanson earned the win for the Blue Jays after pitching one inning, while Kevin Gausman had a solid outing, allowing two runs over seven innings. The Blue Jays will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the next game against the Cardinals, with José Berríos set to start on Saturday.