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Baltimore Orioles Triumph Over Toronto Blue Jays in 9-5 Victory
In an exciting display of power hitting, Jordan Westburg recorded the first multihomer game of his career, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 9-5 win against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday in Toronto.
Westburg, along with teammate Colton Cowser, launched home runs in the opening inning, giving Baltimore an early advantage. Westburg’s second homer, a solo shot, came in the seventh inning, solidifying their lead.
A pivotal moment for the Orioles came in the fourth inning, when Gary Sanchez contributed a sacrifice fly to a productive four-run frame, highlighted by Ramon Urias’s three-run double. Cedric Mullins added to the tally with a single that brought in another run in the fifth, and Heston Kjerstad’s sacrifice fly pushed the score to 8-4.
Starting pitcher Dean Kremer (1-0) struck out six Blue Jays while allowing five runs on five hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. The Orioles’ bullpen, featuring Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano, Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez, and Felix Bautista, effectively preserved the lead for the team.
Toronto’s highlight came in the third inning, where Andrés Giménez hit a two-run homer, briefly giving the Blue Jays a 4-2 lead. The scoring had initially been opened by Anthony Santander’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Alejandro Kirk, which had tied the game at 2-2.
In the fifth inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s ground out allowed Nathan Lukes to score, narrowing the deficit to 8-5 for Toronto.
Blue Jays Pitching Challenges
Star pitcher Max Scherzer’s debut for the Blue Jays was cut short due to right lat soreness. Although he was limited to 80 pitches, he managed to throw only 45, conceding two runs on three hits while striking out one in just three innings on the mound.
Toronto’s bullpen, comprising Richard Lovelady (0-1), Jacob Barnes, Chad Green, Yimi Garcia, and Jeff Hoffman, struggled significantly, with Lovelady, Barnes, and Green collectively surrendering seven runs.
Takeaways from the Game
For the Orioles, Scherzer appeared to regain his rhythm after the initial two home runs by Cowser and Westburg. However, his departure opened the door for Baltimore to capitalize, as they sent 14 batters to the plate during the fourth and fifth innings, effectively exhausting Toronto’s pitching staff.
On the Blue Jays’ side, shortstop Bo Bichette stood out with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate, scoring twice. Despite his efforts, his teammates struggled to drive him in, leaving him stranded in scoring position multiple times. His early-season performance has elevated his batting average to .500, indicating a strong comeback following injury setbacks last year.
Key Moments and Stats
A critical moment in the game came when Lovelady faced Urias with an 0-2 count, the bases loaded, and two outs in the fifth. Urias, capitalizing on a pitch that caught too much of the plate, hit a line drive to right field, clearing the bases and expanding Baltimore’s lead.
Statistically, Giménez has been noted for his defensive skills rather than his batting prowess. Remarkably, he hit the only two home runs for the Blue Jays this season, a feat that took him 38 games to achieve with the Cleveland Guardians last year, where he ultimately finished with nine home runs across 152 games.
Looking Ahead
The series finale will see Chris Bassitt make his first start of the season for Toronto as they wrap up a four-game series against the Orioles, who will counter with Tomoyuki Sugano taking the mound.
Source
globalnews.ca