The Orioles had their likelihood to win Tuesday night time’s sport within the ninth inning and squandered it.
Ryan McKenna led off the inning with a floor ball single to signify the profitable run, however the Toronto Blue Jays outperformed the Orioles within the subsequent 4 plate appearances to ship the sport to extras. Baltimore reliever Mike Baumann was then jumped on by the center of Toronto’s order within the tenth, permitting three runs en path to a 6-3 loss.
The Orioles couldn’t rating within the backside half off Blue Jays nearer Jordan Romano, who retired Austin Hays, Jordan Westburg and Ryan O’Hearn so as.
During McKenna’s at-bat, supervisor Brandon Hyde introduced slugger Anthony Santander onto the on-deck circle to pinch-hit for Jorge Mateo, however as soon as McKenna reached base, he caught with Mateo to sacrifice bunt. Mateo, who has struggled bunting all season, did so once more Tuesday, failing to put down both of his makes an attempt, finally coming out in foul territory.
“I really wanted to stay away from him tonight,” Hyde mentioned of Santander, who missed the earlier two video games with decrease again soreness. “We got in a bunt situation there. Either I can hit Tony, which I’m trying to stay away from, or try to get a runner in scoring position for the top of the order, and we just didn’t get a bunt down there unfortunately.”
Adley Rutschman then appeared to hit an infield single, however shortstop Bo Bichette made a probably game-saving play with an off-balance throw to nab the catcher at first. Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider then opted to have left-hander Tim Mayza deliberately stroll Ryan Mountcastle, a right-handed slugger who mashes lefties and Toronto pitchers however was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, to face the left-handed-hitting Gunnar Henderson. The dangerous transfer labored, as Henderson, who almost received the sport with a gentle liner that landed simply foul, grounded out softly to second base.
On the primary pitch of the tenth inning, Blue Jays No. 3 hitter Brandon Belt demolished — a 96.6 mph fastball completely down the center — 417 toes to right-center discipline to attain the automated runner and himself. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit the primary pitch he noticed from Baumann for a double, scored on a wild pitch.
The loss is Baumann’s first of the season after starting it with a 9-0 file as a reliable reliever.
“Belt’s been a really really good hitter for a long time,” Hyde mentioned. “Just looking for a fastball out over the plate obviously and got every bit of it. Had our opportunities before that and didn’t quite get it done.”
Baltimore (77-48) is 2 video games up on the Tampa Bay Rays atop the American League standings and seven 1/2 video games forward of the third-place Blue Jays (70-56). The Orioles entered the sequence 8-2 towards Toronto this season.
The Orioles took an early lead with an RBI double from Hays, his thirtieth two-bagger of the season, within the first inning. The Blue Jays then struck for 2 runs within the second and one within the fourth off Grayson Rodriguez, who settled all the way down to pitch six innings of three-run ball. Baltimore’s bullpen adopted Rodriguez with three scoreless innings by Jacob Webb, Cionel Pérez, Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista.
Mateo then created a run within the fifth together with his pace, stealing third and scoring on a throwing error from Toronto catcher Danny Jansen, whose try to nab Rutschman at second on the double steal skipped into the outfield. Westburg then doubled off Blue Jays reliever Yimi García, who changed starter Yusei Kikuchi with two outs within the fifth, to drive in Rutschman and tie the sport. Toronto’s bullpen adopted Kikuchi with 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
“This is an excellent, excellent bullpen,” Hyde mentioned of the Blue Jays’ aid corps. “They’re tough to score on. They’ve been tough to score on for everybody, and they were really good tonight.”
Grayson grinds by begin
Rodriguez pitched worse Tuesday than he had since mid-July. The proven fact that he nonetheless logged a top quality begin reveals how far the 23-year-old rookie has are available in simply the previous month.
The right-hander wasn’t as dominant as he’d been over his earlier 5 begins, however he battled by six difficult frames, scattering eight hits and two walks with 5 strikeouts. He didn’t have really feel for his slider or curveball, throwing his breaking balls simply 12 instances on 94 pitches, however he received by together with his fastball and changeup.
“Six innings without his best stuff or his best command, so I’m really happy about that and figuring things out,” Hyde mentioned. “He didn’t have great command of his fastball tonight, but the changeup was pretty good. He gutted through six innings only giving up three runs.”
Facing the Blue Jays for the third time this yr, he stranded two runners within the first and escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs within the second thanks to 2 double play balls — the latter a glowing diving cease by first baseman Mountcastle. But the membership’s prime pitching prospect to start the season later settled down, retiring seven of his remaining eight batters. Rodriguez struck out Matt Chapman and Jansen with fastballs at 98.1 and 99.3 mph, respectively, to finish his night time with an excited scream into his glove.
Daulton Varsho’s two-run house run — a 416-foot blast to proper discipline — and Kevin Kiermaier’s RBI double within the fourth — a 103.4 mph line drive — have been among the many few hard-hit balls Rodriguez surrendered. Four of Toronto’s hits off the younger starter have been hit softer than 80 mph — with an infield single hit 53.8 mph and a bloop at 63.9 mph. But Rodriguez fought by the unhealthy batted-ball luck to go six innings and register a top quality begin for the fourth time in 5 begins.
“That’s a good club over there, really solid lineup,” mentioned Rodriguez, who has a 4.32 ERA in 16 2/3 innings towards Toronto. “They got some guys that can swing it. Obviously they showed that tonight.”
Rodriguez struggled in his first 10 huge league begins with a 7.35 ERA, incomes a visit again all the way down to Triple-A Norfolk to regain his type. He’s returned with improved velocity and confidence in his fastball, which sat at 97.3 mph Tuesday. In seven begins since he was recalled, Rodriguez has a 3.24 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings with 35 strikeouts.
Around the horn
- Orioles government vp and common supervisor Mike Elias joined the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network broadcast Tuesday to reply questions in regards to the state of a corporation that has the most effective file within the AL and the most effective farm system within the sport. Elias mentioned pitching prospect DL Hall has been “terrific” since rejoining Norfolk in a aid function, including the group is “gearing him up to hopefully” be a part of Baltimore’s bullpen down the stretch. Elias additionally mentioned No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday is “about as polished as you can imagine” for a 19-year-old who was in highschool a bit of over a yr in the past. After opening the season in Low-A, Holliday entered Tuesday hitting .350 in 25 video games as one of many youngest gamers in Double-A. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Elias mentioned.
- Reliever Danny Coulombe struck out two in a scoreless inning for Norfolk on Tuesday in his first minor league rehabilitation project. Coulombe, who’s recovering from left biceps tendinitis, mentioned Sunday that he anticipated to want just one rehab outing earlier than returning to Baltimore.
This story might be up to date.
Blue Jays at Orioles
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Blue Jays at Orioles
Thursday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN, MLB Network (out of market solely)
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com