Five-run inning carries Blue Jays past Orioles

Alejandro Kirk keyed a five-run sixth inning with a three-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Tuesday.

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended his hitting streak to 18 games when he singled in the sixth inning of the opener of a three-game series. He also walked and was hit by a pitch.

Jackson Holliday hit a solo home run for the Orioles, who are 2-3 halfway through a 10-game road trip. The Blue Jays won for just the second time in six games.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (9-10) allowed two runs, three hits and two walks while striking out nine in seven-plus innings.

Baltimore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (discomfort in the back of his shoulder) was a late scratch after cutting his warmup short. He was replaced by right-hander Albert Suarez, who allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six over five scoreless innings.

The Orioles’ first hit produced the game’s first run, as Holliday socked a sixth-inning homer to right-center on a 1-1 cutter. It was the third home run of Holliday’s career, all since he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk last week.

Burch Smith replaced Suarez in the sixth and allowed Guerrero’s two-out single to right. Smith was replaced by Gregory Soto (2-5), who allowed a single to right by Spencer Horwitz. Kirk followed with his third homer of the season, a drive to left. Daulton Varsho doubled and Ernie Clement was walked intentionally. After a double steal, Addison Barger hit a two-run double to left.

Varsho made a leaping catch at the center-field wall on Gunnar Henderson’s drive for the second out of the seventh.

Baltimore loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth when Rutschman walked and Mountcastle and Eloy Jimenez singled. Genesis Cabrera replaced Bassitt and walked pinch hitter Austin Slater to score a run. Cabrera ended the inning with two strikeouts and a groundout.

Chad Green pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his ninth save.

–Field Level Media