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Guerrero Jr. Shines in Blue Jays’ Victory Over Orioles
TORONTO – In a thrilling encounter on Thursday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led the Toronto Blue Jays to a narrow 7-6 victory against the Baltimore Orioles, contributing four RBIs and extending his hitting streak to 20 games.
Guerrero Jr. was just a single away from achieving a cycle during the game, showcasing his prowess at the plate. This victory marks the Blue Jays’ seventh win in their last ten games at home, improving their record to 53-62, while the Orioles, now at 68-48, have struggled recently, losing 15 of their last 26 matchups.
In the game, Guerrero kicked off the scoring by doubling home teammate George Springer in the first inning. He then hit a two-run homer—which was his 23rd of the season—in the fifth, before tripling off the right-field wall in the sixth to drive in another run.
Guerrero has now put himself two games shy of matching his career-high 22-game hit streak set in 2022, making him only the second player in Blue Jays history to have multiple hitting streaks of 20 or more games. The first was Damaso Garcia, who recorded 20 and 21-game hit streaks in 1982 and 1983, respectively.
On Thursday, Guerrero finished the game with three hits out of four at-bats, with two runs scored. Throughout his current hitting streak, he has maintained an impressive batting average of .507, including 11 doubles, one triple, ten homers, and 22 RBIs.
The Blue Jays also benefited from a solid performance by pitcher Kevin Gausman, who improved his record to 10-8. Gausman allowed a two-run homer from Colton Cower after walking a batter in the third inning but otherwise held strong, giving up two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two over eight innings.
The Orioles managed to challenge the Blue Jays’ lead in the ninth inning, scoring four runs on five hits against relievers Zach Pop and Chad Green, creating a tense atmosphere for the 27,910 fans present at Rogers Centre.
Toronto rookie shortstop Leo Jimenez continued to impress, adding to the offense with a double and scoring in the sixth inning on a single from Daulton Varsho. Varsho himself had a productive game, reaching base multiple times with a single, two walks, and three runs scored.
On the pitching front for the Orioles, starter Dean Kremer faced challenges, lasting just 4 â…“ innings while allowing five runs on four hits along with five walks and six strikeouts.
In roster news, the Blue Jays placed reliever Genesis Cabrera on the paternity list and acquired right-hander Tommy Nance from the San Diego Padres for cash. Nance, 33, hasn’t pitched in the majors since late 2022 with the Miami Marlins.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays are set to host the Oakland Athletics for a three-game series starting Friday. Entering the matchup, Oakland holds the second-lowest win total in the American League at 48, only behind the struggling Chicago White Sox at 28. Toronto’s Jose Berrios is slated to take the mound against Athletics’ right-hander Mitch Spence.
Source
globalnews.ca