Kevin Gausman cools off Dodgers as Jays halt skid

Alejandro Kirk was 3-for-3 with a homer, right-hander Kevin Gausman pitched seven strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Sunday afternoon.

The Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep and ended a five-game losing streak.

Freddie Freeman homered for the Dodgers, who had a six-game winning streak end. They are 5-1 on a nine-game road trip.

Gausman (1-3) allowed one run, five hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove (0-1) was the opener and allowed three runs and four hits while striking out three in two innings. Alex Vesia replaced him for one inning and Ryan Yarbrough pitched four scoreless frames.

Toronto scored three runs in the second. Former Dodger Justin Turner singled, moved to third on Davis Schneider's double and scored on Daulton Varsho's groundout to first. Isiah Kiner-Falefa's groundout to third scored Schneider. Kirk hit a 3-1 hanging sinker to right for his first home run of the season.

Gausman pitched around Max Muncy's leadoff double in the fifth.

Freeman hit an 0-2 fastball to center for his second home run of the season with two out in the sixth. It extended his hit streak to eight games.

Yimi Garcia replaced Gausman in the eighth and allowed a leadoff walk to Austin Barnes. Mookie Betts followed with a double to center that extended his hit streak to eight and put runners at second and third. Shohei Ohtani popped out and Freeman was walked intentionally. Teoscar Hernandez struck out. Tim Mayza replaced Garcia and ended the inning when Muncy's drive to center was caught by Varsho at the wall.

Jordan Romano took over in the ninth for Toronto. George Springer made a superb catch in right on Andy Pages's liner, then Romano struck out the next two batters to earn his fourth save of the season.