Toronto Sports Today

Toronto Sports News Continuously Updated

Instant Reaction: Blue Jays score three runs in the ninth to come back and beat the Orioles

by

There is just no quit in the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

Down by two runs heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Jays were looking for some base runners and some timely hits to win the game, and the club got exactly what was needed to get the job done. Before that, it was a game that was largely in favour of the Baltimore Orioles.

Max Scherzer got the start for Toronto and gave up two runs in the first inning to give Baltimore an early lead. While a missed strike call contributed to the rally for the Orioles, it was the lone runs that Scherzer would provide on the day. He would go five innings and allow four hits, two runs, two walks, and struck out five while keeping zero balls from going over the outfield wall, a step in the right direction for the veteran hurler.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Behind Scherzer, the Jays’ bullpen allowed just three hits and two runs the rest of the way, with Eric Lauer and Braydon Fisher being on the receiving end of those runs.

For the Blue Jays’ bats, they were kept out of the hit column until Tyler Heineman dunked a ball into short left field in the bottom of the third inning and didn’t put a run on the board until two innings later. Facing Tomoyuki Suagno, who was pitching well against the Jays for his third start against the AL rival this year, Addison Barger got the barrel to a low sweeper at the inside part of the plate and deposited the offering 402 feet over the right field wall, making it 2-1.

Baltimore would plate a run at the top of the eighth inning, but the Jays responded quickly. Ernie Clement started the frame with a single through the left side. He would advance to second base on an Andres Gimenez groundball to first, and with two outs in the inning, George Springer would bring home the infielder to make it a 3-2 game. Alejandro Kirk would pinch-hit for Nathan Lukes and get on base as well via a single, and after Vladimir Guerrero Jr walked, the bases were loaded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was pinch-hitting for Barger. He would ground out to first, ending the frame and leaving the Jays down by one.

Coby Mayo would give the Orioles one run back in the top of the ninth inning on a solo shot off Fisher, but the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t roll over.

Davis Schneider flew out to start the bottom of the ninth, but Daulton Varsho got on base via a bunt, which was quickly thrown into right field, allowing the Jays’ centre fielder to make it to second base. Yeinner Cano would replace left-hander Keegan Akin on the mound, but it wouldn’t do Baltimore any good, with Clement and Joey Loperfido (pinch-hitting for Myles Straw) both getting on base via a single and making it a 4-3 ballgame. Gimenez would follow with a single of his own to left field, scoring Clement from third base to tie the game.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Springer would be next up to bat and reach via a catcher’s interference, with rookie catcher Samuel Basallo getting the glove in the veteran player’s swing path. With the bases loaded and just one out on the board for Kirk, Cano needed a ground ball to get out of the jam, and the Jays catcher had other plans. On a second pitch sinker, Kirk would send the inside pitch to centre field, deep enough to score Loperfido from third base and give Toronto the walk-off win in dramatic fashion.

It wasn’t the prettiest game for the Blue Jays; however, Toronto continues to find ways to win and still holds the top spot in the AL East. The club now sits 24 games over .500 and will turn to Shane Bieber to try and secure the sweep over Baltimore, while the Orioles are reportedly planning to use multiple arms from their bullpen to get through the Sunday contest.