The Toronto Blue Jays were not prepared for what the Baltimore Orioles brought to the table this year. Not only did the Orioles keep the Blue Jays down, but they also stole the season series in dominating fashion.
In the most recent series, the Orioles would fall short in the first game before taking over the next two games to keep Toronto from gaining ground in the AL East and Wild Card standings.
There is a new hierarchy in the AL East, and Baltimore is proving it, as they improved to 9-2-2 in series against the East and finish 10-3 against the Blue Jays.
Let’s see how the series unfolded.
GAME 1: O’s 3, TOR 6 – 10 INNINGS
Grayson Rodriguez was on the mound to open the series, and it was a game that showed how the young rookie phenom has matured.
Without his breaking pitches working, Rodriguez would depend on his fastball and changeup to turn in his fourth quality start in his last five outings. Over his last seven outings, Rodriguez has a 3.24 ERA and a WHIP of 1.08. As he grows, so goes the Orioles down the stretch.
Rodriguez completed six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five on 94 pitches (65 strikes).
The Orioles struck first when Austin Hays doubled in Gunnar Henderson to give the Birds a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays would score two in the second and one in the fourth to go up 3-1.
Jorge Mateo and Adley Rutschman opened with back-to-back singles before the first out. Then, on a Henderson strikeout, Mateo and Rutschman pulled off a double steal in which catcher Danny Jansen threw the ball into center, allowing Mateo to score. Jordan Westburg would follow with an RBI double to knot the game up at three.
Jacob Webb, Cionel Pérez, Yennier Canó and Félix Bautista held the Blue Jays scoreless to help send the game into extra innings. Unfortunately, Mike Baumann (9-1) would allow three runs (two earned) to be plated, as his first pitch was met with a home run by Brandon Belt.
The Birds would go quietly in the bottom of the 10th and drop the game, 6-3.
GAME 2: O’s 7, TOR 0
Dean Kremer was designated the starter after Jack Flaherty was scratched. With a surprise start, Kremer was locked in and ready to continue his strong season against Toronto.
After completing six innings of five-hit, no-run ball, Kremer (W, 12-5) was at his finest in guiding the Orioles to victory. He improved to 2-0 (three starts) with a 1.56 ERA (three runs in three games) in 17.1 innings of work.
Offensively, a double by Gunnar Henderson and a single by Ryan Mountcastle (28-game on-base streak) gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Anthony Santander would add a solo home run in fifth to put the Birds up 2-0, and in the eighth, Tony got a rally going with another solo shot (23).
The Orioles would pick up four more runs on a wild pitch, a sac-fly from Cedric Mullins and a two-run single by Adley Rutschman to put the O’s up, 7-0.
Webb (H, 8), Canó (H, 28) and Shintaro Fujinami each pitched a perfect inning to close the game and preserve the shutout victory. The win also assured the Orioles would not be swept for the 80th consecutive series.
GAME 3: O’s 5, TOR 3
With Kremer starting game two, Kyle Gibson was tabbed to start game three. The savvy veteran came through and put forth his best effort as an Oriole this season.
Gibson (W, 13-7) dialed in and would complete eight innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out eight, giving the bullpen a much-needed breather.
Santander (24) and Mullins (11) hit two-run shots to put the O’s up, 4-2, and Henderson provided an RBI single to finish the scoring for the Birds.
Mullins would make a game-saving catch with runners on first and third to help hold Toronto to two runs. Then, in the seventh, Danny Jansen laced a double off the wall before Mullins fielded the ball and threw out Jansen, trying to extend the play.
Bautista (S, 33) came in and locked the game down to preserve the victory, the Orioles’ 79th win, and clinching the series win and closing the season series.
BATTERY ❌-FACTOR
For the series, Gunnar Henderson was dubbed the BATTERY ❌-FACTOR. While hind sight would have gone with Anthony Santander (three home runs) or Cedric Mullins (three RBIs and defensive game-saving plays), Henderson still had his presence felt.
Henderson extended his hitting streak to nine games (on-base to 10 straight). He did pick up only three hits, but he drove in a run and scored twice. His offense might have been quiet, but his defense was a key factor in each game.
Whether off balance throws or amazing stops, Henderson came up big defensively for the Orioles. Though we were looking for his offense, he made up for that with a few defensive gems.
The Orioles maintained their two-game lead over Tampa Bay while pushing the Blue Jays to 9.5 back in division. The loss also dropped Toronto to 1.5 games back in the AL Wild Card standings.
The Orioles will welcome the Colorado Rockies, who have lost four straight to The Nest as the homestand continues tomorrow night. Will the Birds scale the Rockies, or will Colorado snow down on the Birds?
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