Kikuchi struggles again as Blue Jays drop fifth straight

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Piscotty homered, Adrián Martínez struck out five over five solid innings, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Matt Chapman hit a tying two-run homer in the second against his former club, but the A’s held on to secure a winning series for just the second time in their last 12. They won 5-1 in Monday’s first game, snapping a 12-game skid in series openers that was one shy of the Oakland record accomplished three times previously, most recently in 1994.

The A’s loaded the bases with no outs in the third after Yusei Kikuchi allowed Nick Allen’s leadoff walk, and then hit Ramón Laureano and Christian Bethancourt with pitches. Sean Murphy followed with a sacrifice fly.

Four relievers followed Martínez and held Toronto in check, with Lou Trivino closing it out for his sixth save in seven opportunities. Trivino bounced back from a loss Saturday at Seattle that followed three straight saves.

Kikuchi (3-5), who went 1-0 with a 4.20 ERA over three starts versus Oakland last year, matched his season high with five walks in 2 1/3 innings. He was charged with four runs and two hits.

Teoscar Hernández also homered for Toronto, which matched a season-high five-game losing streak.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman, who took a comebacker off his right foot during a 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday, played catch for a second straight day, but his status to start Thursday at Seattle remained unclear. ... C Danny Jansen (pinkie fracture) had a day off but is set to catch again for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday in his rehab assignment. ... RHP Yimi García (back strain), who struck out two in one clean inning at Buffalo on Monday, was being evaluated to