TORONTO — Justin Smoak homered and drove in two runs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and an RBI and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Smoak hit an RBI single off Mike Soroka in a two-run first, and added his 20th homer in the seventh against Sean Newcomb.
The NL East-leading Braves lost their second straight following an eight-game winning streak that matched a season high. They managed just four runs while playing in New York, Colorado and Toronto in a span of three days.
Former Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson went 0 for 4 in his first game back in Toronto.
The Canadian-born Soroka (10-3) allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings in his first loss in 14 road starts this season. Soroka came in 6-0 with a 1.32 ERA away from home.
Zack Godley (4-5) pitched three innings for the win in relief of opener Wilmer Font. Ken Giles, the seventh Toronto pitcher, got three outs for his 17th save in 18 opportunities, catching Freddie Freeman looking at strike three for the final out.
Acquired from Oakland in November 2014, Donaldson won the AL MVP award in his first season in Toronto, teaming up with fellow sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion to help the Blue Jays win the AL East and end baseball's longest active playoff drought. Donaldson earned All-Star and Silver Slugger honors for a second straight season in 2016 as Toronto won the wild card and made another losing appearance in the ALCS.
Last August, the Blue Jays traded Donaldson to Cleveland for minor league right-hander Julian Merryweather. Speaking to a crowd of reporters before the game, Donaldson said it hurt to leave Toronto while rehabbing an injury in the minors, depriving him of a chance to say goodbye.
"I didn't want to leave on that type of sour note," he said.
Before the first pitch, the Blue Jays paid tribute to Donaldon's Toronto tenure with a highlight video, including his dramatic slide to score the winning run in the 2016 ALDS against Texas. Standing alone in shallow right field, where he had been warming up, Donaldson tipped his cap and turned to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd of 24,578.
The fans were on their feet again when Donaldson batted with two outs and a runner at third in the first inning. Donaldson stepped out of the box and tipped his batting helmet to the crowd, then stepped in to face Font. After getting ahead 2-0, Donaldson flied out.
Usually a defensive stalwart, Donaldson made a throwing error on Bo Bichette's infield hit in the bottom of the first. Guerrero and Smoak hit RBI singles as Toronto took an early lead.
The Braves put runners at second and third with one out in the fifth, but Godley struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. and got Ozzie Albies to ground out.
Albies got Atlanta on the board with an RBI double off Derek Law in the seventh. Freeman was intentionally walked to load the bases for Donaldson, who popped to shortstop.
Soroka, who is from Calgary, faced the Blue Jays for the first time in June 2018, allowing four runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: OF Austin Riley (right knee) started at DH and went 2 for 5 and scored a run Monday in his first rehab game with Triple-A Gwinnett. ... RHP Darren O'Day (right forearm) allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning with Class A Florida. His next outing is expected to be at Triple-A.
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (left knee surgery) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Travis was injured during spring training and did not play for Toronto in 2019.
UP NEXT
Braves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (4-5, 5.68 ERA) is 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts this month.
Blue Jays: RHP Jacob Waguespack (4-1, 3.63 ERA) pitched seven shutout innings against the Dodgers in his previous outing and is unbeaten in five starts.
