Blue Jays slam Bucs’ Volquez

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Another rough outing from a starting pitcher put Pittsburgh in a big hole Sunday.

Only this time, the Pirates’ hitters couldn’t save them.

Edinson Volquez gave up a grand slam to Colby Rasmus and a two-run homer to Melky Cabrera as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pirates 7-2 Sunday.

“I made a lot of bad pitches today,” Volquez said.

The Pirates had won the first two games of the series in comeback fashion. They rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the ninth inning to win the opener, then trailed 5-0 in the fourth before winning Saturday night.

Dustin McGowan (2-1) pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, allowing one run and striking out five.

It was just the fourth win in 13 games for Toronto, which prevented the Pirates from completing their first series sweep of the season.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and first base coach Rick Sofield were ejected by plate umpire Greg Gibson at the end of the fourth inning for arguing a called third strike on Jordy Mercer. The strikeout stranded two runners and ended the inning.