The Toronto Blue Jays headed into the final game of a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, looking to shut down a tough lineup.
Baltimore’s offence in the first three games had pounced on Toronto’s pitching, scoring 21 runs in three games (seven runs per game). Toronto elected to go with starting pitcher Paolo Espino in today’s game, hoping to at least get 5.0 innings out of the RHP with minimal damage.
The Jays had an opening spot in the rotation after SP Yusei Kikuchi was traded to the Houston Astros.
Espino managed to go 5.0 innings but allowed four earned runs in that span. Espino gave up two runs via Ryan Mountcastle’s triple in the first inning and another on a Colton Cowser home run in the 2nd.
After Baltimore scored another run in the third, Espino settled down in the fourth inning and would leave a 4-3 game.
Toronto scored their first two runs via Addison Barger. The infielder homered in the third innings, the second time he left Camden Yards during the series. Barger scored Ernie Clement on a double in the fourth, as the Blue Jays were only down by two.
Barger now has six hits in his last 15 at-bats, collecting 7 RBIs in that span. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out in the fifth, putting Toronto within one run.
Toronto had a tough pill to swallow once Espino left the game, going to a bullpen that has a 5.09 ERA on the year.
It wasn’t shocking when the Orioles instantly scored in the fifth inning, and they would do so in a big way. Major League Baseball’s top prospect, Jackson Holliday, took Toronto reliever Yerry Rodríguez deep for a grand slam for his first home run as a big leaguer.
Holliday was called up by the Orioles today, returning to the majors after having a disappointing first-stint in Baltimore.
Anthony Santander would later score James McCann in the inning, putting Baltimore up 9-3. Santander now has 48 career RBIs against the Toronto Blue Jays in 76 games played.
Each team would score one more run as Baltimore beat the Blue Jays 10-4. The two teams will clash in their final series of the season next week.
Orioles SP Grayson Rodriguez got the win, allowing three earned runs over 6.0 innings pitched. Rodriguez hasn’t given up three or more earned runs in six of his last seven starts.
Outfielder Daulton Varsho left the game in the seventh inning, and according to the Blue Jays Varsho was removed due to heat illness symptoms. The temperature in Baltimore today felt like 41 degrees Celcius when you factor in the humidex.
For many Blue Jays fans, the game today was not about the score but more about how newly acquired utility player Joey Loperfido would do in his Toronto debut.
Loperfido collected one hit in the game, striking out two times. Loperfido only had one hit in his last eight games for the Houston Astros before being traded.
Toronto hadn’t lost a series against Baltimore this year, splitting their first two matchups. The Blue Jays will enjoy a nice off-day for their pitching tomorrow, heading to New York to face the Yankees on Friday night.
