Game #67 Toronto Blue Jays (24-43) @ Baltimore Orioles (21-46) - game recap

Rowdy Tellez hit a mammoth grand slam as the Blue Jays knocked off the Orioles 8-6

After a heartbreaking loss to the Orioles, the Blue Jays were looking to snap a 5-game losing streak. Ken Giles was placed on the IL with elbow inflammation. Righty Jordan Roman took Giles' place on the roster and Clay Buchholz was transferred to the 60 day IL. Derek Law got the start as the opener as the Blue Jays had a bullpen day today. Cavan Biggio was back in the lineup and batting lead off after a day off yesterday. Vlad was back in the field after serving as the DH yesterday. Luke Maile got the start behind the plate. Could the Blue Jays prevail? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Derek Law pitching line: 1IP 1H 0R 1BB 0K 18 pitches (9 for strikes)
• The Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Trey Mancini cracked a solo shot to dead center
• The Blue Jays got on the board in the top of the 5th as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Luke Maile
• David Hess pitching line: 4IP 5H 4R (all earned) 4BB 3K 96 pitches (52 for strikes)
• Two batters later, Cavan Biggio scored on a wild pitch by Miguel Castro
• Three batters later, Rowdy Tellez crushed a grand slam to right also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Justin Smoak
• The Orioles got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Rio Ruiz scored on a wild pitch by Edwin Jackson
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 6th as Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Maile
• A batter later, Gurriel Jr. singled home Guerrero Jr.
• The Orioles got a pair back in the top of the 8th as Chance Sisco doubled home Anthony Santander and Jonathan Villar
• A batter later, Mancini scored on a ground out by Renato Nunez
• Two batters later, Ruiz singled home Sisco
• Daniel Hudson got the final 4 outs for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Orioles 6

My Take:

• The Blue Jays decided to swap Edwin Jackson, who struggled mightily in the starter's role, out for Derek Law. Jackson entered the game in the second inning and threw 5 solid innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and a pair of walks while striking out a pair. It was the veteran righty's best outing in a Blue Jays uniform.
• The bats came alive in the 6th with 6 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and a wild pitch, capped by a mammoth grand slam by Rowdy Tellez. The Blue Jays also added two crucial insurance runs the next inning, that would prove to be the difference in the game.
• Vladimir Guerrero, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Teoscar Hernandez, Rowdy Tellez and Luke Maile all had-multi-hit games
• Justin Smoak and Cavan Biggio both drew a pair of walks
• Freddy Galvis and Randal Grichuk were the only Blue Jay batters not to reach base
• The bullpen bent but didn't break today. They gave up 4 runs in the 8th and the Orioles had the tying run on second with no one out in the 9th before Daniel Hudson slammed the door shut with a pair of strikeouts to end the game
• I think the game should have gone into a delay in the 7th or 8th inning. It was raining quite hard at that point and player safety has to be a concern with a slick ground.
• Up next, ace Marcus Stroman takes the ball as the Blue Jays look for the series win. The Orioles will counter with righty Gabriel Ynoa