Alejandro Kirk helped the Toronto Blue Jays drive in five runs with a three-run homer in the sixth inning as they beat the Baltimore Orioles, 5-2, on Tuesday.
Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled in the sixth inning of the first of a three-game series, extending his hitting streak to 18. He also walked and was hit by a pitch.
Jackson Holiday hit a solo home run for the Orioles, who are 2-3 at the halfway point of a 10-game road trip and the Blue Jays won for the second time in six games.
Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (9-10) pitched seven-plus innings, giving up two runs, three hits and two walks while striking out nine batters.
Baltimore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (back shoulder discomfort) cut his warmup short and was removed from the game shortly after. Right-hander Albert Suarez took his place and allowed two hits and two walks in five innings while striking out six.
Holliday got the Orioles’ first hit in the sixth inning, a 1-1 cutter to right-center field for the first run of the game. It was Holliday’s third career home run since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk last week.
Birch Smith replaced Suarez in the sixth inning, but with two outs, he allowed Guerrero to single to right. Gregory Soto (2-5) replaced Smith, but Soto allowed Spencer Horowitz to single to right. Kirk then hit his third home run of the season, driving to left. Dalton Varshaw doubled and Ernie Clement was intentionally walked. After stealing second base, Addison Burger smashed a two-run double to left.
Varsho made a jumping catch near the center field wall of a ball hit by Gunnar Henderson for the second out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Baltimore began the eighth inning with a walk by Rutschman, and Mountcastle and Eloy Jimenez singled to load the bases with no outs. Genesis Cabrera replaced Bassitt and walked pinch-hitter Austin Slater to score a run. Cabrera finished the inning with two strikeouts and one groundout.
Chad Green pitched a 1-2-3 third inning to earn his ninth save.
–Field Level Media
