Ryu earns 1st win of season as Blue Jays hold off Reds

Hyun Jin Ryu added some velocity to his pitches and it led to his first win of the season.

"As a guy who can have command on his change-up and fastball, [velocity] is how I can attack the hitters," said Ryu through a translator. "If I'm able to keep that up, I think that's just gonna continue to grow."

Ryu gave up six runs over 3 1/3 innings in his first start of the season on April 10, then five runs over four innings April 16. He showed improvement on May 14 when he allowed just one in 4 2/3, an eventual 5-1 win for Toronto in Tampa Bay. Friday's win dropped his earned-run average from 9.00 to 6.00.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said that Ryu gaining velocity has helped his past two starts.

"When he throws 90, 91, that fastball explodes more in the zone and it's tougher to hit," said Montoyo. "Then, of course, the key has been throwing his breaking pitches for strikes to keep hitters off balance."

George Springer and Bo Bichette each drove in a run to back up Ryu's performance.

Santiago Espinal stretched his career-best hit streak to 13 games for Toronto (21-18), but Vladimir Guerrero Jr., saw his end at 15.

Ryan Borucki, Adam Cimber, Yimi Garcia and Jordan Romano came out of the bullpen for the Blue Jays. Romano, from Markham, Ont., earned his 13th save of the season.

Matt Reynolds had an RBI single for Cincinnati (11-27). Luis Castillo (0-2) had five strikeouts but allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings. Hunter Strickland and Art Warren combined for two innings of scoreless relief.

Warm welcome for Votto

Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who grew up in Toronto's west end, got a warm ovation from the 29,300 in attendance at Rogers Centre when he led off the second inning.

"It meant a lot," said Votto, who returned to Cincinnati's lineup after spending more than two weeks on the COVID-19 injured list. "You never expect that and, if you make the mistake of spending too much time with it, they'll shut it down quick and then let you know where you fit it.

"It was great, it meant a lot. Thank you to them."

Espinal was moved up to fifth in the Blue Jays' batting order by Montoyo for the game.

Espinal rewarded Montoyo's faith in the fourth inning with an infield hit to Castillo, which the Toronto second baseman legged out for a single. He would add another single in the eighth.

"We've been talking about our offence not hitting, but he's the one guy who's been a constant, a guy that's been having good at-bats the whole time," said Montoyo.

Springer broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning, stroking a single past a diving Reynolds at second base. The base-hit scored Bradley Zimmer, who had doubled in the previous at-bat.

The Reds answered back in the seventh, putting runners on the corners. Reynolds came to the plate with two out, putting a single just over a jumping Espinal's head to score Mike Moustakas.

Cimber was on the mound for the play but the run was charged to Borucki, who had put Moustakas on base when he hit him with a pitch to start the inning.

Romano came on in the ninth to close out the game, his first appearance since May 14 as he overcame a gastrointestinal infection. He induced two groundouts and a pop fly to earn the save.