It’s never easy for the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto. Going into last night’s game they had lost seven straight to the team from the great white north. Jordan Lyles was taxed with keeping Toronto bats in check last night, and for the most part he succeeded at that. Lyles’ line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K.
The O’s took a 2-0 lead in the third when Ryan Mountcastle smacked a two-run home run. Toronto seemingly was threatening all game, but the O’s were always able to navigate around those threats. They would cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of that third inning when Bichette grounded into a fielder’s choice-RBI.
And in fact, the O’s would even extend their lead in the fourth. Robinson Chirinos’ RBI-double gave the Birds a 3-1 lead. However Toronto would briefly tie the game in the last of the fourth when Chapman smacked a two-run homer. You kind of felt a change in momentum at that point. But not for long…
…because the Birds almost immediately took the lead back. Austin Hays’ solo homer in the fifth gave the Birds a 5-4 lead. And while Toronto continued to threaten, they never gave the lead back from there. Tyler Nevin added a sac fly-RBI later in the fifth, and Cedric Mullins an RBI-single in the sixth.
Toronto would pull to within one on RBI-singles by Moreno in the sixth and eighth respectively. The O’s called on Jorge Lopez for a five-out save. Make no mistake that those aren’t easy. But Lopez held strong, closed out the game, and thus did his part to help the Orioles snap a seven-game losing streak to Toronto.
The series continues this evening at Rogers Centre. Bruce Zimmermann gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Jose Berrios. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 