MILWAUKEE -- Instead of going into cruise control during the final inning of an impressive 9-4 victory over the Brewers on Friday night at American Family Field, the Blue Jays instead held their breath as they waited for the results of an X-ray on the left hand of catcher Alejandro Kirk, who left the game after getting struck on the hand on a swing by Milwaukee outfielder Jonathan Davis.

When that X-ray came back negative, Toronto's collective sigh of relief was stronger than any breeze blowing in off of nearby Lake Michigan.

"He's one of the best players in baseball so it's always scary, especially on that hand," Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. "But the X-rays were negative, and he's going to be fine."

Montoyo wasn't exaggerating in his praise. Kirk came into the game with a .307 batting average and .395 OBP, both of which put him tops among all qualified catchers in MLB, and ranked second in slugging percentage (.487) and OPS (.882).

Kirk's secret, Montoyo said, is his approach.

"He can hit the ball inside, he's always ahead in the count and he can go to the other way," Montoyo said. "He doesn't chase and that's huge because if you don't chase, you're going to get good pitches to hit.

"And when he gets good pitches to hit, he doesn't miss them."

• Kirk leads first All-Star voting update

He didn't miss his pitches Friday. In four at-bats before leaving the game, Kirk had four hits; three singles and his third home run in as many games, a two-run blast in the seventh off Milwaukee reliever Trevor Kelly that blew the game wide open.

"I'm feeling great right now," Kirk said through interpreter Hector Lebron. "I'm working hard, following my plan and seeing the results."

Kirk's big day at the plate made his job behind it a lot easier. He sparked a five-run outburst in the second with a leadoff single -- the first of six straight hits -- which let right-hander Alek Manoah go into attack mode early.

Manoah held Milwaukee to a pair of runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six and tipped his cap to Kirk, not just for his offensive contributions but his game-calling efforts as well.

"He's really good," Manoah said. "He studies a lot. He knows each and every pitcher he's going to work with and he's trying to get better each and every outing, just like we are. He's a great battery mate."

When Manoah came out of the game with two outs in the seventh, Kirk did, too.

"I was very happy when I saw [the X-rays] were negative," Kirk said. "It's a little sore, a little uncomfortable right now but hopefully tomorrow it feels a little better."

The Blue Jays hope so, too, not only because Kirk is one of the team’s best players right now -- he's batting .393 over his last 25 games -- but because he’s emerged as one of the team’s leaders, on and off the field.

“It's something you really appreciate,” Kirk said. “They've always been like that with me. Even if I'm not doing good, all the guys have always been great with me. Whether I'm doing good or doing bad and I really appreciate that about my teammates.”