TORONTO — The good news was Bubba Chandler was much improved, striking out a career-high 11 batters.

The bad news? Those strikeouts came in just five innings and he was still charged with the loss. Chandler’s defense committed three errors in the first three innings, leading to three runs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates lost 6-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at Rogers Centre.

At least early, it felt like a game the Pirates gave away.

Chandler had his best stuff, racking up a career-high 22 whiffs. He’d been hit hard or struggled with his command in his first three outings of the month, but the Blue Jays were aggressive and routinely chased fastballs above the zone and changeups and sliders below it.

He struck out three batters in the first inning, working around a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walk, and struck out the side in the fourth.

The Pirates gave him a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Brandon Lowe singled against Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, then Nick Gonzales narrowly missed his first homer of the season with a double off the left -field wall. Spencer Horwitz, making his return to Toronto, scored Lowe with a sacrifice fly.

But the Blue Jays capitalized on sloppy play from the Pirates in the third. George Springer started the inning by reaching on Endy Rodriguez’s catcher’s interference and advanced to third on a Guerrero single. Daulton Varsho grounded to Horwitz, playing in, but Horwitz tried to catch Springer leading off third and threw past the third baseman Gonzales. Yohendrick Pinango then scored both Guerrero and Varsho with a hard-hit liner to right, the lone ball hit off Chandler at over 97 mph.

Just one of the runs against Chandler was earned. The errors, including a muffed grounder from Gonzales in the second, directly led to 18 extra pitches for Chandler. He completed just five innings, throwing 99 pitches.

The Pirates couldn’t do anything more against Gausman, failing to bring in a run after placing runners on first and third with no outs in the seventh. Back-to-back groundouts from Esmerlyn Valdez, making his major league debut, and Jake Mangum failed to bring in a run, then Oneil Cruz flew out against reliever Mason Fluharty.

They got within one in the eighth. Lowe walked and Gonzales singled against Fluharty, then the Blue Jays turned to their relief ace Gus Varland. A Varland wild pitch and Bryan Reynolds’ pinch-hit groundout brought a run in, but Konnor Griffin struck out and Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out.

… the Blue Jays broke it open against Dennis Santana in the eighth, scoring three times against the Pirates’ former closer. The runs came on three doubles, including a two-run knock from George Springer, and a walk.

Santana had an 0.69 ERA on April 25. Less than a month later, it’s 5.48.

While encouraging for Chandler, he did still walk three batters. His defense didn’t help him Friday, but he hasn’t pitched into the sixth inning in his past six starts.

Just two Pirates have recorded 11 or more strikeouts in five or fewer innings — Chandler Friday and Erik Bedard on May 3, 2011.

Brandan Bidois and Justin Lawrence both threw scoreless innings before Santana came in in the eighth.

The Pirates went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base.

Lowe reached base three times, going 2 for 3 with a walk. Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with two singles.

Most valuable player

Gausman, who struck out eight Pirates in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and a walk, but just one run.

The Pirates and Blue Jays continue their three-game series at 3:07 p.m. ET Saturday. Paul Skenes (6-2, 2.62 ERA) will make his first start on international soil, facing left-hander Patrick Corbin (1-1, 4.23).