Game Recap: Blue Jays Beat Up On Orioles

The Blue Jays had a solid home stand and had climbed back to one game over .500, but then they dropped the next two games. Coming into the second game of their set with the Orioles, the Jays were looking to get back to .500 and start stringing together some wins.

Mark Buehrle breezed through his first 2 innings but in the 3rd he allowed a two out two run single. He bounced back in the 4th and 5th with two 1-2-3 innings. In the 6th, Buehrle looked to be in trouble after a lead off double but got a strikeout, issued an intentional walk and then got some help from his defence with a slick double play. 

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Chris Tillman worked quickly through his first three innings but in the 4th, the red-hot Chris Colabello singled home Edwin Encarnacion and moved up to second after Russell Martin got caught in a rundown on the same play. Encarnacion got in the action again in the 6th with a solo home run. In the 7th, Josh Donaldson singled home Devon Travis who came into the game to pinch run for Justin Smoak. Bautista then hit a ground rule double to left which would have scored Donaldson if it had stayed in the park. It turned out not to matter as Donaldson was able to scamper home on a wild pitch after Tommy Hunter came in relief of Tillman. Encarnacion then hit his second home run of the game—again to the opposite field but this time a two run shot.

With T.J MacFarland pitching in the 8th, the wheels fell off for the Orioles. There were 2 errors and a wild pitch. Goins reached on error, Travis reached on a fielder’s choice that also resulted in a throwing error to home allowing Pillar to score. Goins then scored on a wild pitch. Donaldson followed up with a 2 run HR to centre field to put the game completely out of reach for the O’s.

Roberto Osuna, Aaron Loup and Ryan Tepera finished off the game cleanly.

Game Notes:

– Jose Bautista swing seems different with his shoulder issues. He’s hit well DHing but maybe it would have been better to put him on the shelf right after the original injury and have him start healing up.

– EE hit not one but two rare, for him, opposite field home runs

– Mark Buehrle had a strong start but was taken out having only pitched 78. It’s the second straight start that he’s been removed from the game with a low pitch count, no apparent injury and throwing well. Even stranger tonight he was removed with a 4 run lead.

– Tepera has continued his perfect debut having not allowed a baserunner to reach yet

Next: Russell Martin Mashing in May