MLB: the Orioles extend the slide of the Blue Jays; 7th loss in nine games

TORONTO – The Baltimore Orioles scored three runs in the fourth inning helped by mediocre performances by the Toronto Blue Jays on defense and on the mound, and they won 7-3 in the first of a three-game series. matches between the two clubs on Monday evening at the Rogers Centre.

The Orioles (60-55) signed a ninth victory in their last 13 games while the Blue Jays (61-53) continued their slide, they who have only two wins in nine games.

Facing a 3-0 decline, the Blue Jays scored two runs in the third inning, thanks to a single by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., which allowed two teammates to cross home plate.

Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi (4-7) started the fourth inning by striking out Austin Hays. However, the next hitter, Jorge Mateo, reached the bases on an error by shortstop Bo Bichette.

Mateo went to second base after a walk to Terrin Vavra and reached third base on an error by Kikuchi when the latter tried to wrong-foot Mateo at second.

A hard hit to Bichette unbalanced the shortstop, and his throw to plate in hopes of putting Mateo out came too late.

A double from Ryan McKenna to left-center field and a sacrifice fly from Adley Rutschman produced two more runs and the Orioles led 6-2.

“The last two days haven’t been ideal games defensively, which tends to be underlined a bit,” Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider said, referring to poor quality defensive play the day before against the Cleveland Guardians. “But in general, the defense has been excellent. You have to play well defensively against anyone in the major leagues. »

A single from Anthony Santander in the first inning and a two-run homer from Ryan Mountcastle in the third, had given the Orioles a 3-0 lead.

The Orioles added a run in the fifth inning on a Vavra sacrifice fly.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose one-game hitting streak ended at 22 on Sunday, fought back with his 24th homer of the season after an out in fifth.

Kikuchi only pitched for three and a third innings. He gave up six runs (three unearned), four hits and three walks. He got three strikeouts.

“I felt like I was attacking the hitters early in the game, but then I lost that rhythm,” Kikuchi said.

George Springer was back in the batting role for the Blue Jays after 10 days on the disabled list with a right elbow injury.

He was the designated hitter, had two hits in five visits to home plate, including a double down the left field line in the third inning. He added an infield single in the seventh and a walk in the ninth.

With Springer’s return to the top of the batting roster, Gurriel has gone from No. 1 to No. 3.

Gurriel had two more hits and hit the trails in 38 of 44 games. He hit 61 hits on 171 hits for a .357 batting average. This is the best average in all of major league baseball since the start of June.

With his .310 overall batting average, Gurriel Jr. ranks third in the American League behind Luis Arraez (.333) of the Minnesota Twins and Andres Gimenez (.312) of the Cleveland Guardians.

The win went to reliever Bryan Baker (4-3).