Baltimore was able to continue pounding on Toronto's miserable season with a 2-1 victory to start a four-game series this weekend. The Orioles scored all they needed to in the top of the fifth inning while the Blue Jays were only able to respond but cutting the lead in half in later innings. Baltimore moves to 6-2 on the season while Toronto falters to just 1-8. They've now lost six consecutive games. Both starting pitchers went six innings or more and were tagged with the runs, but Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman was tagged with his first win of the season.
Opposing pitcher Francisco Liriano was hit with the loss despite recording ten strikeouts.
Orioles vs. Blue Jays series capsule
- Game 1: Baltimore 2-1
- Game 2: Friday, 7:07 PM ET
- Game 3: Saturday, 12:07 PM ET
- Game 4: Sunday, 12:07 PM ET
Offense hard to come by for Blue Jays, Orioles
Nobody got a hit in the contest until the bottom of the second when Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit a single. They weren't able to do anything with it as Russell Martin immediately hit into a double play. The Orioles finally started up their hitting when Jonathan Schoop recorded his first double of the season. Again, they also didn't do anything with it with a groundout and strikeout to follow.
In the bottom of the third, the Blue Jays were immediately in business with a double by Kevin Pillar.
They followed that up with a lineout and two groundouts to end any sort of a threat. The pitchers' duel went strong through the fourth inning with both of them just giving up a walk.
Things finally opened up in the fifth inning. In the top of the frame, Welington Castillo opened things up with a leadoff single. Trey Mancini immediately singled to get two runners.
Schoop then picked up his second double of the game, and he was able to reel in Castillo. However, the Blue Jays made a great throw to get Mancini out at home plate. Still, the damage has been done with Liriano throwing just four pitches in the inning. After three more pitches, J. Hardy picked up a RBI by bringing in Schoop to make it 2-0.
That finally prompted a coaching visit with Liriano, and he responded with consecutive outs.
Bautista finally delivers response for Blue Jays
Toronto couldn't get anything going in the bottom half with two strikeouts to start things, but they were able to respond in the sixth. Two consecutive double were hit by Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson -- the latter's coming on just one pitch in the at-bat. He was replaced with a pinch-runner, and Kendrys Morales had a walk. Gausman received a talk at this point, and similar to his opponent, he was able to get the next two batters out to end the threat.
That was hit for any comeback attempt by the Blue Jays. They had just one hit by Tulowitzki in the bottom of the ninth for the remainder of the contest.