Blue Jays watch it slip away, drop opener to Orioles

The Toronto Blue Jays let it slip away slowly on Thursday night, falling 6-5 to the Baltimore Orioles at the Rogers Centre.

Marcus Stroman was a different version of himself in each inning, continuing a trend of inconsistency that has stretched over his last five starts. The right-hander allowed four earned runs on eight hits over five and a third innings. He only managed a pair of strikeouts, walking one batter.

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

Jose Bautista left the game in the sixth inning with an injury and was replaced by Ezequiel Carrera. It is being reported that Bautista is experiencing right thigh tightness and will be day-to-day. He produced before exiting, however, going 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI, and two walks.

Michael Saunders had a strong game at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to bring his average to .294. Russell Martin also drove in a run as part of a 1-for-3 day with a base on balls.

Joe Biagini pitched one inning of scoreless relief behind Stroman before handing off to the left-hander Aaron Loup, who surrendered a home run to Chris Davis to tie the game at 5-5. Gavin Floyd handled the final two outs of the seventh before Jason Grilli struck out two in a scoreless eighth.

Roberto Osuna entered for the ninth with the score still tied, but after a Hyun Soo Kim double, a sac fly from Chris Davis put the Orioles ahead and saddled the closer with the loss.

Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.41) is schedule to face Kevin Gausman (0-3, 3.52 ERA) tomorrow night at 7:07 ET.