The Toronto Blue Jays flexed their muscles with home runs from Brett Bateman and Alejandro Kirk, propelling them to a 7-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on Saturday.
Bateman kicked off the scoring with a solo shot in the third inning, followed by Kirk’s two-run blast later in the frame.
This victory brought the Blue Jays within 1 1/2 games of the final American League wild-card spot currently held by Cleveland. Meanwhile, the Orioles’ Pete Alonso added some excitement with a no-doubt two-run homer in the seventh inning.
Toronto has been on a hot streak, winning 10 of their last 16 games. The series’ deciding game was set for Sunday.
Blue Jays’ opener Spencer Miles faced a tough first inning but managed to escape a bases-loaded situation, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kirk contributed with key hits against Orioles’ starter Kyle Bradish.
The Orioles got on the board thanks to a defensive miscue by Toronto’s Kazuma Okamoto in the fourth inning.
Both teams saw multiple pitchers take the mound in a bullpen-heavy game, with Toronto’s diverse offensive attack shining through as they outhit the Orioles.
The sellout crowd erupted as Lukes threw out Encarnacion-Strand at home plate, a pivotal moment in the game. Lukes also extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the seventh inning.
Exciting Home Runs Lift Blue Jays Past Orioles
Keyphrase: Blue Jays home runs
