Alejandro Kirk’s Four-Hit Game Lifts Blue Jays Over Cardinals

Alejandro Kirk played a pivotal role in the Toronto Blue Jays' 5-4 extra-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, and two RBIs. His eighth-inning solo home run and a 10th-inning double that scored the winning run were crucial in securing the win, extending his impressive hitting streak to five games and raising his season batting average to .316. Kirk has been on a hot streak, batting .457 over the past nine games with five extra-base hits and 10 RBIs, contributing significantly to the Blue Jays' recent success with nine wins in 11 games. The Blue Jays overcame a late Cardinals lead thanks to a key home run by Jonatan Clase and strong relief pitching from Yariel Rodríguez, who rebounded after giving up a three-run homer. The Cardinals, with a strong home record and third-best team batting average in MLB, faced a resilient Blue Jays team that excels especially when not giving up home runs, holding a 15-7 record in such games. Both teams entered the matchup with identical overall records of 36-30, setting the stage for a competitive second meeting of the season.