Blue Jays' bats come alive early as Toronto pounds out 14 hits in victory over Brewers

Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits apiece and Whit Merrifield drove in a pair of runs as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 on Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays scored four runs in the first inning en route to their fourth win in seven games.

Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi (6-2) gave up a two-run homer to William Contreras in the opening frame but settled in after that, allowing just three hits over five innings.

Cavan Biggio and Merrifield each had a pair of hits for the Blue Jays in the opener of the three-game series.

Brewers starter Adrian Houser (1-1) lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs, 11 hits and three walks. He had three strikeouts.

That home cooking