Blue Jays beat Marlins 7-2 for 8th straight win

TORONTO (AP) – Justin Smoak hit one of four Blue Jays homers, Scott Copeland won in his first major league start and Toronto beat the Miami Marlins 7-2 Wednesday to extend its winning streak to eight.

Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin and Jose Reyes also connected for the Blue Jays (31-30), who moved above .500 for the first time since May 19 (16-15). Toronto is on its longest winning run since a nine-game streak from May 20-28 last year.

Copeland (1-0), a 27-year-old right-hander who made his big league debut in relief on May 2, started in place of Aaron Sanchez, who was skipped because of general soreness. Copeland allowed one run and six hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked none.

Smoak and Martin hit consecutive homers in the fourth off Tom Koehler (4-4), who allowed six runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings and lost for the first time since May 6 at Washington.

Reyes and Donaldson hit back-to-back drives in the seventh off Koehler and Sam Dyson. The Blue Jays have hit consecutive homers three times this season.

Toronto has outscored opponents 57-21 during its current streak.

Miami has lost four of five and at 24-36 matched its season worst of 12 games under .500/

Martin hit an RBI single and Kevin Pillar added a sacrifice fly as Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the second. Smoak hit a two-run homer off the facing of the third deck and Martin followed with ninth homer to make it 5-0 in the fourth.

Ichiro Suzuki tripled home a run in the fifth, but the Blue Jays chased Koehler in the seventh when Reyes hit his second homer. Donaldson followed with his 17th. Miami’s Marcell Ozuna hit a solo homer off Brett Cecil in the ninth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Mat Latos (left knee) is expected to be activated off the 15-day DL Saturday to pitch against Colorado. Latos last pitched May 21 against Arizona.

Blue Jays: Sanchez’s next start is scheduled for June 16 at the New York Mets.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Miami returns home Thursday to begin a four-game series against Colorado. RHP David Phelps (2-3) starts for the Marlins, his second straight start against the Rockies. Phelps allowed season-highs of nine runs and 11 hits in his previous starts, June 6 at Coors Field.

Blue Jays: Toronto is off Thursday before a three-game series at Boston starts Friday. RHP Drew Hutchison (5-1) faces RHP Joe Kelly (2-4) in the opener. Hutchison walked a season-high five and allowed six runs in four innings in an April 28 start at Fenway Park, but Toronto won 11-8.