bo bichette

TORONTO — Bo Bichette homered and scored the deciding run to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to their season-high eighth straight victory, 3-2 over the Angels on Sunday.

The American League East-leading Blue Jays improved to 52-38, sweeping a homestand of seven of more games for the first time since 1994 and second in franchise history.

Toronto drew even on with Bichette’s leadoff homer in the fourth inning. His 12th homer came after his error in the top of the inning loaded the bases for the Angels. Davis Schneider drove in Bichette in the sixth inning with a single down the left-field line.

Mike Trout homered for the Angels with two out in the first.

After Bichette’s homer, Toronto went ahead in the fourth on a two-out single from Joey Loperfido, who made his season debut. The Angels tied it in the fifth when Taylor Ward singled over Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and three walks. Tyler Anderson (2-6) yielded three runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five-plus innings.

Reliever Ryan Burr (1-0) got the victory in his first outing of the season after dealing with a right-shoulder injury. Jeff Hoffman picked up his 22nd save.

Key moment

With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning, Gausman coaxed Gustavo Campero into a 1-3 double play.

Key stat

The Blue Jays have 52 wins with six games remaining before the All-Star break. The club record for victories before the break is 53, set in 1985 and matched in 1992.

Up next

Yusei Kikuchi, who was named to the AL All-Star team on Sunday, was scheduled to start for the Angels at home Monday night against Texas. Jose Berrios (4-3) was set to start for Toronto on Monday night in Chicago against the White Sox’s Sean Burke (4-7).

Jorge Soler lined a double into the left-field corner with the bases loaded to drive in three runs in the ninth inning and lift the Angels to a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

Trailing 4-2, the Angels loaded the bases with no outs against Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (3-1) when Kyren Paris drew a four-pitch walk and Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel singled.

Hoffman struck out Taylor Ward for the first out, but Soler drove a ball that rolled into the corner and past left fielder Jonatan Clase for the comeback win.

The Blue Jays opened the seventh with five straight hits, including Myles Straw’s go-ahead RBI single and Bo Bichette’s two-run single, to take a 4-1 lead.

Toronto starter José Berríos gave up two runs — solo homers by Paris and Yoan Moncada — and five hits in six innings, striking out nine, walking five and inducing 18 swinging strikes.

Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi gave up one run and five hits in six innings. Brock Burke (3-0), the Angels’ fifth pitcher, got the win with one scoreless inning.

With the score tied at 1, Ernie Clement opened the seventh with a double off Reid Detmers. Andrés Giménez beat out a sacrifice bunt for a single and Straw singled home Clement to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. Bichette singled in two runs to make it 4-1.

Paris homered in the seventh off Berríos to pull the Angels within 4-2.

Key moment

With two on and one out in the eighth, Moncada made a diving backhand stop of Straw’s grounder down the third-base line, got up, stepped on the bag and threw to first to complete an inning-ending double play and preserve a 4-2 deficit.

Key stat

The Angels have given up nine bunt hits this season, tied with Miami for the most in the majors.

Up next

Chris Bassitt (2-2, 2.95 ERA) will start Thursday’s series finale for the Blue Jays against Jose Soriano (2-4, 3.83 ERA).