BALTIMORE — Brandon Belt hit a home run on Mike Baumann’s first pitch in the 10th inning, while Daulton Varsho hit a two-run home run in the second, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
The loss ended the Orioles’ three-game winning streak and decreased their lead in the AL East over the second-place Tampa Bay Rays to two games.
In the 10th inning, with Bo Bichette on second base as the runner, Belt hit a liner into the right-field seats for his 14th home run of the season. The Blue Jays have won five of their last seven games and hit seven home runs in their last two games.
Toronto added another run in the 10th inning on a wild pitch by Baumann. Baumann, Orioles’ reliever, became the first reliever in Orioles’ history to win his first nine decisions.
Tim Mayza pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Blue Jays, while Jordan Romano closed the game and earned his 31st save in 34 tries.
Blue Jays’ starter Yusei Kikuchi allowed three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. It was the first time in seven starts since July 6 that Kikuchi gave up more than two earned runs.
The Orioles trailed 3-1 in the fifth inning before tying the game against the Blue Jays’ reliever Yimi Garcia. Jorge Mateo scored after Blue Jays’ catcher Danny Jansen threw wildly to second base on a double steal, and Garcia gave up a two-out RBI double to rookie Jordan Westburg.
In the first inning, Austin Hays doubled in a run for the Orioles, but the Blue Jays took the lead in the second inning when Daulton Varsho hit a two-run home run on an 0-2 pitch. Kevin Kiermaier added an RBI double in the fourth inning.
Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles’ player, received an intentional walk in the ninth inning, extending his career-high run of reaching base to 27 consecutive games.
Orioles’ right-hander Tyler Wells was optioned to Double-A Bowie in late July after struggling in three straight starts. He has already pitched a career-high 113 2/3 innings. After being used sparingly at Bowie, Wells was transferred to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.
In terms of injuries, Blue Jays’ first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was in the starting lineup after leaving Sunday’s game with discomfort in his left middle finger. Orioles’ outfielder Anthony Santander missed his third straight start due to a lower back injury.
In the next game, Kevin Gausman will start for the Blue Jays, while Jack Flaherty will start for the Orioles.
