Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run home run, and Chris Bassitt struck out a season-high nine batters in seven innings to end a three-start losing streak as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Tuesday night.
Addison Barger hit a two-run double during a five-run sixth inning for Toronto, which handed Baltimore its 14th loss in the last 24 games. The Orioles also fell behind the Yankees in the AL East for the first time since June 26.
Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was scratched just before the game due to pain in his upper back and shoulder and will return to Baltimore for further tests, according to manager Brandon Hyde.
Hyde mentioned that Rodriguez had been feeling fine until he started warming up for the game.
“He’s been feeling fine, threw a really good bullpen in Cleveland,” Hyde said. “It just came up tonight while he was warming up.”
Right-hander Albert Suárez took Rodriguez’s place and pitched five scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
“To give us five innings in that kind of spot, that’s unbelievable,” Hyde said.
Suárez said he had about 20 minutes’ notice before the emergency start but managed to prepare in time.
“For me, it’s just whatever it takes to help the team,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for. I’m always going to be ready for the team out there.”
Toronto’s Daulton Varsho made a great leaping catch at the wall to rob Gunnar Henderson in the seventh inning, and left fielder Joey Loperfido received praise in his Toronto debut for a diving play on Colton Cowser in the first.
Bassitt praised Varsho for his impressive catch.
“If he doesn’t win the Platinum Glove, we need to get rid of it,” Bassitt said. “He’s the best defender in all of baseball and it’s not even close.”
Bassitt (9-10) allowed two runs on three hits and walked two batters.
“I probably had my best slider I’ve had in years today,” he said.
