Blue Jays 3, Giants 1
SAN FRANCISCO -- Aaron Sanchez limited the San Francisco Giants to one run over seven innings, and Edwin Encarnacion belted a two-run home run Monday night, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 3-1 victory in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
Michael Saunders had a run-scoring single and Toronto relievers Gavin Floyd and Robert Osuna combined for two game-ending shutout innings as the Blue Jays prevailed in their first meeting with the Giants since 2013.
Osuna, who pitched around a leadoff double by Brandon Crawford in the ninth, recorded his seventh save.
Sanchez (3-1) won his third consecutive start, lowering his ERA to 2.58 in the process.
He allowed just three hits in his seven innings, but did walk a season-high five. He struck out five.
Encarnacion's homer, his sixth of the season, was his 34th in interleague play since 2010, tying teammate Jose Bautista for the most in the majors.
Bautista was aboard via a walk for Encarnacion's two-run blast, which increased the Toronto lead from 1-0 to 3-0 in the third inning.
That completed the Blue Jays' line against Giants starter Jake Peavy (1-4), who pitched five innings.
Three Giants relievers combined for four innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits, to keep the game within reach.
Saunders' RBI single came before the night turned a bit comical for the Blue Jays' left fielder.
First, he lost Brandon Belt's sixth-inning line drive in the lights, turning it into a double that advanced Matt Duffy to third base.
The Giants scored their only run of the night one batter later on Hunter Pence's infield out.
The next batter, Crawford, sliced a flyball toward the Giants bullpen down the left-field line.
Saunders seemed to have a routine play, but he tripped over the bullpen mound and, as he was stumbling, the ball hit him in the head and bounced away.
Sanchez was able to retire Crawford on a fly to center, retaining a 3-1 lead.
Encarnacion had two hits for the Blue Jays, who were kicking off a six-game trip. His home run was the first for Toronto in its last three games.
Catcher Trevor Brown, replacing Buster Posey, had two of the Giants' four hits.
Posey, who was being rested, grounded out as a pinch-hitter representing the potential tying run to end the game.
Peavy, who brought a 9.00 ERA into the game, struggled through five innings, but managed to keep the Giants in the game, down just 3-0.
He limited the Blue Jays to three runs despite allowing five hits, including the homer to Encarnacion, five walks and two wild pitches. He struck out six and threw 112 pitches.
The Blue Jays staked Sanchez to a 1-0 lead before he took the mound, and it could have been more.
After Toronto loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first on walks to Josh Donaldson and Encarnacion that sandwiched a single by Bautista, Saunders lined a single to right field that put the Blue Jays on the board.
But even though Pence was in the process of throwing the ball toward second base, conceding a second run, Blue Jays third base coach Luis Rivera held Bautista at third, leaving the bases loaded.
Peavy then struck out Troy Tulowitzki and got Russell Martin to ground out, avoiding further damage.
NOTES: The Giants (13-7) and Blue Jays (12-8) were two of MLB's most successful teams in interleague play in 2015. ... Tuesday's pairing of Giants RHP Matt Cain and Blue Jays LHP J.A. Happ was a rematch of Cain's perfect game against Houston on June 13, 2012. Four years later, Cain sought to snap a 13-game winless streak. ... Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that LF Angel Pagan (strained hamstring) would be available as a pinch-hitter in the Toronto series. Bochy hopes to have Pagan back Thursday at Arizona. ... San Francisco recalled OF Jarrett Parker from Triple-A Sacramento and returned OF Mac Williamson. ... Blue Jays LHP Brett Cecil left the team Sunday to attend the birth of his second child and was placed on the paternity list. His daughter, Braelynn, was born Monday. Cecil is expected back Friday in Texas. RHP Ryan Tepera, who was demoted Friday, was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Cecil.