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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays rally late to defeat Orioles in series finale

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It wasn’t pretty, but the Toronto Blue Jays got the win.

On Sunday afternoon, the Blue Jays faced off against the Baltimore Orioles, defeating the fellow American League East team 7-6 in 10 innings to move to 9-7 this season. Let’s take a look at what happened in this game!

 

The Orioles were first on the board in the bottom of the first, as they scored thanks to a wild pitch from José Berríos. However, the Jays tied it in the top of the second as Alejandro Kirk hit his first home run of the season.

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Ryan Mountcastle retook the lead for the Orioles as he hit his first home run of the season, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. found an answer as he hit an RBI single to tie the game up at two.

The Orioles once again found the go-ahead run, as Adley Rutschman reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Gunnar Henderson. They extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Canadian Tyler O’Neill hit his second home run of the season. The Jays cut the lead to one with Myles Straw’s single, but a fielding error by Guerrero Jr. scored two runs for the Orioles’ 6-3 lead.

However, the Jays clawed back into the game in the top of the eighth. Alejandro Kirk hit his second extra-base hit of the game, a double, to score Andrés Giménez. A ground out from Davis Schneider scored another run, before Bo Bichette hit a clutch RBI single to tie the game at six each.

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No one scored in the ninth inning, leading to extra innings. The only run was scored thanks to Straw’s infield single, giving the Jays a 7-6 win. Closer Jeff Hoffman pitched a great tenth, as the Jays came away with the victory.

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Takeaways…

This game was the best the bats have looked all season. Alejandro Kirk had two extra-base hits, including the Jays’ ninth home run of the season. His double was one of four from the Jays, as Ernie Clement hit his second double of the season, Andrés Giménez hit his third of the season, and Anthony Santander hit his second of the season.

Clement, in particular, had a great day. Coming into this game, he had two doubles and two singles in 37 plate appearances for a .097 batting average. In the game, he went 4-5 and was instrumental in the Jays’ comeback.

Myles Straw continues to perform well. He went 2-4 with 2 RBI to bring his season batting average to .375. Straw also showed off his great speed in the top of the 10th to drive in a run. Perhaps the trade to get him was good after all. Straw was one of six players with a multi-hit game.

Jeff Hoffman is performing exactly how the Jays need him to. In the bottom of the ninth, he struck out two, allowed a double, and generated a fly out to send the game to extra innings. With a runner on second to start the 10th, he got a ground out and then struck out the next two batters for the win

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José Berríos didn’t have a great start, giving up four earned runs and striking out six in his five innings of work. Nick Sandlin gave up two unearned runs in his third of an inning pitched, while Brendon Little got the final two outs that Sandlin couldn’t get. Mason Fluharty struck out and walked a batter in his inning of work, while Yimi García struck out two batters in his inning.

Nathan Lukes made a base-running blunder after Santander’s lead-off double. This was his second base-running mistake of the young season. However, he made a great game-saving catch in the bottom of the ninth to end the inning.

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George Springer was taken out of the game with left wrist discomfort. He’s considered day-to-day by the team.

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The Jays finished their road trip 4-5, but are 4-2 in their last six games. They return to Rogers Centre to face the Atlanta Braves at 7:07 PM ET on Monday, kick-starting a three-game series. Easton Lucas is expected to start Monday.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.