Ray fans 14, Kirk gets winning hit, Jays beat White Sox 3-1

TORONTO - Alejandro Kirk broke a tie with an RBI single in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 Wednesday night.

After Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray matched his career high by striking out 14 over seven innings, Tim Mayza (4-1) worked a perfect eighth and Jordan Romano finished for his 13th save in 14 chances.

White Sox left-hander Aaron Bummer (2-5) struck out the first two batters he faced in the eighth before giving up singles to Teoscar Hernández, pinch-hitter Breyvic Valera, and Kirk.

José Ruiz replaced Bummer, and Toronto loaded the bases when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reached on an error by Yoán Moncada. Randal Grichuk followed with a four-pitch walk, making it 3-1.

AL Central-leading Chicago lost for the fourth time in five games.

White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson went 0 for 4 in his return after missing four games because of tightness in both hamstrings.

Anderson lined out in the first, struck out in the third, grounded out in the sixth, and struck out on three pitches to end the seventh, stranding runners at first and second.

Anderson’s second strikeout was the 14th for Ray. That boosted Ray’s season total to 192, one more than the New York Yankees’ Gerrit Cole for the AL lead. Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler leads the majors with 204 after fanning 10 Tampa Bay batters Wednesday.

Ray is the first left-hander in Blue Jays history to strike out 14 in a game.

Chicago opened the scoring in the third when Leury Garcia led off with a single, stole second and third, and scored on a two-out hit by Moncada.

The Blue Jays tied it in the fourth on Corey Dickerson’s two-out RBI triple.

White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito allowed one run and five hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out six. Giolito has struck out 175 this season, fourth most in the AL.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: OF George Springer (sprained left knee) is eligible to come off the injured list but likely won’t return until the weekend, manager Charlie Montoyo said. … INF Cavan Biggio has been diagnosed with a sprained left elbow after he was injured diving for a ball in a rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo last Friday. Biggio went on the injured list Aug. 3 because of tightness in his back. ... The Blue Jays activated RHP Joakim Soria (right middle finger) off the injured list and optioned RHP Connor Overton to Triple-A.

White Sox: Manager Tony La Russa said LHP Carlos Rodón (shoulder) will be activated off the injured list to start Thursday’s series finale. … La Russa said C Yasmani Grandal (left knee surgery) could return for this weekend’s home series against the Cubs.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (12-6, 3.54) starts against Rodón on Thursday. Ryu pitched seven shutout innings to beat Detroit in his previous start, but has a 4.88 ERA in five August outings. Rodón (9-5, 2.38) last pitched Aug. 7 against the Cubs.