After a solid shutout win over the Tigers to secure the 12th series win of the season, the Blue Jays began a week-long home stand beginning tonight with the first of four against the Baltimore Orioles. Last season, the Blue Jays won the season series against the Orioles 14-5 and outscored the Orioles 153-84. Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got the half day off as DH with Raimel Tapia in LF. Matt Chapman remains out with a sore right wrist. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Alejamdro Kirk singled scoring George Springer
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Springer
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Guerrero Jr singled home Cavan Biggio
- Two batters later, Teoscar Hernandez doubled scoring Bo Bichette
- A batter later, Santiago Espinal singled scoring Hernandez and Guerrero Jr.
- Two batters later, Raimel Tapia singled home Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Santiago
- A batter later, Biggio tripled home Tapia
- Kyle Bradish pitching line: 4.1IP 9H 5R (all earned) 1BB 3K 90 pitches (54 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Espinal singled scoring Kirk
- Alek Manoah pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 1BB 2K 86 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Orioles got one back in the top of the 7th as Kyle Stowers doubled scoring Adley Rustchman
- The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Guerrero Jr. hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in left
- Final score: Blue Jays 11 Orioles 1
My Take:
- Alek Manoah threw 6 shutout innings, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out 7. After Austin Hays reached on a throwing error by Santiago Espinal with 2 outs in the 33d inning, Manoah retired the next 10 batters he faced. He should have been out of innings earlier but his defense let him down
- The Blue Jays lost Julian Merryweather to a side injury. The embattled righty has struggled to stay healthy. Last season, he missed all but 13 games with an oblique strain. Here's hoping this injury doesn't prove to be as serious
- The bats were alive with the Blue Jays scoring in every inning except the 2nd, 4th and 7th innings. Every starter had at least one hit and scored once
- The Blue Jays were 8-16 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the winning streak to 3 games. Yusei Kikuchi starts against Orioles righty Jordan Lyles
