Kirk hits 3-run HR, Bassitt fans season-best 9 as Blue Jays beat Orioles 5-2
Kirk hits 3-run HR, Bassitt fans season-best 9 as Blue Jays beat Orioles 5-2
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk hits a three-run home run as Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman looks on during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk hits a three-run home run as Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman looks on during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk hits a three-run home run as Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman looks on during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) works against the Baltimore Orioles during first inning MLB action in Toronto on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) works against the Baltimore Orioles during first inning MLB action in Toronto on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) watches from the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) watches from the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk, right, is congratulated by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk, right, is congratulated by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. celebrates as Alejandro Kirk (right) hits a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. celebrates as Alejandro Kirk (right) hits a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger celebrates after hitting a two-run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger celebrates after hitting a two-run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger hits a two-run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Addison Barger hits a two-run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Gregory Soto works against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Gregory Soto works against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Gregory Soto reacts during sixth inning MLB baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Gregory Soto reacts during sixth inning MLB baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk is handed the home run jacket by Steward Berroa after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk is handed the home run jacket by Steward Berroa after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
El mexicano, Alejandro Kirk, de los Azulejos de Toronto recibe la chaqueta de cuadrangular por parte del dominicano Steward Berroa luego de conectar un jonrón de tres carreras frente a los Orioles de Baltimore, en la sexta entrada del juego de béisbol en Toronto, el martes 6 de agosto de 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
El mexicano, Alejandro Kirk, de los Azulejos de Toronto recibe la chaqueta de cuadrangular por parte del dominicano Steward Berroa luego de conectar un jonrón de tres carreras frente a los Orioles de Baltimore, en la sexta entrada del juego de béisbol en Toronto, el martes 6 de agosto de 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rounds second base after a single by Spencer Horwitz during sixth inning MLB baseball action against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rounds second base after a single by Spencer Horwitz during sixth inning MLB baseball action against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson forces out Toronto Blue Jays’ Daulton Varsho and throws to first base to complete the double play during eighth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson forces out Toronto Blue Jays’ Daulton Varsho and throws to first base to complete the double play during eighth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk is doused by Steward Berroa after their team’s win over the Baltimore Orioles in MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk is doused by Steward Berroa after their team’s win over the Baltimore Orioles in MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles Jackson Holliday rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Baltimore Orioles Jackson Holliday rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO (AP) — Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run home run, Chris Bassitt struck out a season-high nine in seven innings to snap a three-start losing streak and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Tuesday night.
Addison Barger hit a two-run double in Toronto’s five-run sixth inning as the Blue Jays handed Baltimore its 14th loss in its last 24 games. The Orioles fell behind the rained out Yankees atop the AL East for the first time since June 26.
Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was scratched minutes before the first pitch because of pain in his upper back and shoulder and will return to Baltimore for imaging, manager Brandon Hyde said.
Hyde said Rodriguez had no pain until he started preparing for Tuesday’s outing.
“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 started in place of Rodriguez and struck out six over five scoreless innings.
“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 was able to get ready 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 leaping catch at the wall to rob Gunnar Henderson in the seventh inning, and left fielder Joey Loperfido earned cheers in his Toronto debut with a diving play on Colton Cowser in the first.
Bassitt praised Varsho for his latest highlight-reel play.
“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.
“I probably had my best slider I’ve had in years today,” he said.
Bassitt didn’t allow a hit until Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday homered with one out in the sixth.
“We didn’t do much off Bassitt the entire night,” Hyde said. “He really kept us off balance.”
Cowser finished 0 for 3, ending his career-best hitting streak at 17 games.
Bassitt walked Adley Rutschman to begin the eighth and left after back-to-back singles by Ryan Mountcastle and Eloy Jiménez loaded the bases.
Left-hander Génesis Cabrera replaced Bassitt and walked pinch hitter Austin Slater to force in a run. Cabrera struck out Ramón Urías and pinch hitter Coby Mayo before Anthony Santander grounded out to end the threat.
Right-hander Chad Green finished for his ninth save in nine chances.
Burch Smith replaced Suárez in the sixth and retired the first two batters before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled.
Left-hander Gregory Soto (2-5) came on but didn’t retire any of the first five batters he faced. Spencer Horwitz singled before Kirk homered to left, his first since June 10. Varsho doubled and Ernie Clement was intentionally walked, and both runners advanced on a double steal before scoring on Barger’s hit.
“I was missing with my sliders, my breaking pitches,” Soto said through a translator. “I wasn’t really able to command it and I paid the price for that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: C James McCann underwent a successful nasal reduction realignment procedure Monday, the team said. McCann was hit in the face by a fastball in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Toronto last Monday. He was treated for a severe bloody nose and stayed in the game.
UP NEXT
LHP Trevor Rogers (2-10, 4.76 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start for Baltimore on Wednesday. RHP Bowden Francis (4-2, 5.68) goes for Toronto.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb