Orioles beat Blue Jays 4-2, eliminating Toronto from postseason race in doubleheader opener
Baltimore's win in Game 1 ended the defending American League champions' playoff hopes and left the Blue Jays able to finish no better than .500.
What we know
- Baltimore beat Toronto 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at Camden Yards, a makeup of a Sept. 22 game, and took the three-game series. [1] [2]
- The result eliminated the Blue Jays (77-81), the defending AL champions, from the postseason race. The Orioles are also 77-81. [1] [2]
- Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer in the fifth, his 41st of the season, according to The Associated Press. [2]
- Chris Bassitt got the win and Andrew Kittredge earned the save. Max Scherzer took the loss. [1] [2]
- Not yet confirmed: Neither team had announced a starting pitcher for the second game of the doubleheader Wednesday night. Scherzer's plans beyond this start were not settled, according to the AP.
The Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday, ending the Blue Jays' postseason hopes, according to The Associated Press. [2]
Both teams entered the twin bill one loss from elimination, the AP reported. Toronto fell to 77-81, so the best it can do is finish .500. The Orioles are also 77-81. Baltimore won the three-game series. [1][2]
The Blue Jays are the defending American League champions. The AP noted that a year ago they pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers to extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series. [2]
Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his 41st of the season, according to the AP. That put Alonso even with Houston's Yordan Alvarez and Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero for the AL lead in home runs. The AP said Alonso is also eight RBI ahead of Alvarez for the league lead. [2]
Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt (9-5) took a shutout into the sixth inning, the AP reported. Bassitt allowed two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. Andrew Kittredge pitched the ninth for his 11th save. [1][2]
Toronto's Max Scherzer (3-9) allowed four runs and four hits in five innings, struck out seven and walked three, according to the AP. It was the 500th appearance and 491st start of Scherzer's career. The AP said Scherzer's future is uncertain and that the 42-year-old could pitch again on short rest in Sunday's season finale. [2]
Baltimore scored in the second when Jeremiah Jackson hit an RBI single, then a second run scored on a rundown, the AP said. With runners on first and third and two out, Jackson broke for second, stopped and was caught in a rundown. Colton Cowser was slow leaving third, but Toronto kept chasing Jackson, and Cowser scored. Toronto's two runs came in the sixth, after Bassitt left with two runners on. Both scored on a throwing error by Orioles second baseman Jackson, according to the AP. [1][2]