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OAKLAND, Calif. — Carlos Pérez broke out of a lengthy batting slump with a two-run homer off Hyun Jin Ryu and the Oakland Athletics avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2. Kevin Smith, called up from the minors before the game, added a three-run homer off Trevor Richards for the A's. Oakland had lost two straight to the Blue Jays after sweeping Shohei Ohtani and the Angels to begin its homestand. It was a milestone day for Ryu. The 36-year-old left-hander threw 77 pitches in his seventh start after beginning the season in the minors. That's one more start than Ryu had in 2022, when his season was cut short in June due to Tommy John surgery. Ryu (3-2) allowed five hits and had five strikeouts with one walk. The loss was his first since Aug. 1, when he made his season debut.
