Pinch-hitter Luis Urias’s late two-run single lifts Blue Jays over Cardinals 3-1

TORONTO — Luis Urias had a two-run single in the eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays eked out a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Kazuma Okamoto tied the game 1-1 with an RBI double in the sixth as Toronto (51-59) won its second straight.

Dylan Cease struck out seven over six innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks in another quality start.

Relievers Spencer Miles, Jeff Hoffman (6-7) and Louis Varland combined for three scoreless innings. It was Varland’s 24th save of the season.

Jordan Walker had an RBI single in the fifth inning to give St. Louis (54-56) its only run of the game.

Kyle Leahy limited the Blue Jays to just one run over six innings despite giving up six hits and a walk. Justin Bruihl, Peter Strzelecki (0-1) and Gordon Graceffo came out of the visitors’ bullpen.

TAKEAWAYS

Cardinals: Although Toronto’s offence has struggled all season, St. Louis played with fire, giving up a total of nine hits and issuing four walks to the hosts.

Blue Jays: Cease’s excellent showing was almost wasted as Toronto’s offence — the worst in all of Major League Baseball — failed to give him run support. The Blue Jays stranded eight runners, including failing to score a run after loading the bases in the seventh inning.

KEY MOMENT

Toronto loaded the bases a second time in the eighth when George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement drew three consecutive walks with one out. Urias, pinch hitting for Davis Schneider, made the most of the opportunity, poking a single through the gap.

KEY STAT

The Blue Jays kept their fading playoff hopes alive, improving to 4 1/2 games back of the American League’s final wild-card berth.

UP NEXT

Kevin Gausman (4-10) is scheduled to take the mound for Toronto in what could be his final start for the Blue Jays as he’s considered a prime target for teams looking to stock up for the playoffs ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.

Pitching prospect Quinn Mathews will make his MLB debut for St. Louis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press