Scherzer's Return Fuels Blue Jays' Victory Over Athletics

Max Scherzer delivered a strong performance, striking out eight batters and conceding five hits across six innings. This outing resulted in his first victory in almost a year. The Toronto Blue Jays capitalized on a pivotal fifth inning, scoring six unearned runs to secure a 7-6 win against the Athletics on Friday night.

The Blue Jays, currently leading the AL East, have demonstrated their dominance by winning 13 of their last 15 games. Scherzer's win marked a significant milestone, making him the first Toronto pitcher aged 40 or older to achieve a win since R.A. Dickey in 2015, and only the fifth in the team's history. This victory was also particularly noteworthy for the three-time Cy Young Award winner, as it was his first since July 25 of the previous year.

In the fifth inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded his 1,000th career hit with a single. Despite flashes of brilliance, Athletics starter Luis Severino, who was signed to a substantial contract, struggled. Severino allowed seven hits and five runs in his 4 2/3 innings pitched.

Prior to the fifth inning, the Blue Jays held a 1-0 lead. The inning began with an error by second baseman Zack Gelof, allowing George Springer to reach base. Springer later scored on a double steal, initiated when catcher Shea Langeliers dropped the throw. This sequence of events led to a six-run inning for Toronto, ultimately giving them a 7-0 advantage.