TORONTO — Austin Hays hit two of Baltimore's four home runs to help the Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 in the opener of a four-game series between the division rivals on Monday night.
Hayes hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning as Baltimore scored three runs, and added another homer in the seventh.
Anthony Santander hit a two-run homer and Ramon Urias added a solo homer for the Orioles (38-20), who won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run for the Blue Jays, who trailed 10-8.
Kevin Gausman (4-4) gave up six points, tying a season high, and Toronto (28-31) lost for just the second time in seven games.
Toronto's starting pitcher walked Ryan O'Hearn in the first out of the second inning, and the fourth-batter hit his 11th home run of the season for Santander.
In the second half, the Blue Jays took advantage when shortstop Gunnar Henderson caught a routine ground ball from George Springer and lofted it toward first base. Daulton Varsho followed with a triple as Toronto cut Baltimore's lead in half.
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In the fourth inning, Colton Cowser hit a double to bring Santander’s score to two again. Hays then hit a 2-2 splitter over the wall for his first home run of the season.
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Guerrero hit the ball 415 feet to center field off Grayson Rodriguez for his sixth homer of the year.
Hayes hit another home run in the seventh inning, marking the sixth time in his career that he hit multiple home runs in a game.
Gausman was replaced after one batter, ending a 97-pitch outing in which he allowed six hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
The Blue Jays put runners on the corners in the bottom of the inning after singles by Springer and Isaiah Keener-Falefa, but Rodriguez struck out Kevin Kiermaier and Yeniel Cano came on to deliver a lineout to Davis Schneider.
Rodriguez (6-2) allowed just one run, seven hits and struck out four.
Urias added another run in the ninth inning with his third home run of the year.
With the Rogers Centre roof open, the announced attendance was 23,842. The game lasted two and a half hours.
For God's sake
Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker was ejected in the fourth inning by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.
Walker apparently objected to the umpire’s decision to call a pitch that Gausman threw that appeared to be at the top of the strike zone.
Romano Update
Toronto closer Jordan Romano will not be able to pitch for at least three days after receiving an anti-inflammatory injection in his elbow on Sunday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said before the game.
Romano, from Markham, Ont., was placed on the 15-day injured list last Thursday with inflammation in his right elbow. He missed the first 17 games of the season with the same issue.
Rodriguez to the rescue
Blue Jays right-hander Yariel Rodriguez is scheduled to throw about 55 pitches as a relief pitcher for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.
He has been on the injured list since April 30 due to inflammation in his thoracic spine.
Next Steps
Right-hander Corbin Burnes (5.2, 2.35 ERA) was selected as the starting pitcher for the Orioles on Tuesday night. The Blue Jays have yet to determine their starting pitcher.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 3, 2024.
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