(TORONTO) A poor outing by reliever Shintaro Fujinami cost the Orioles dearly on Wednesday as Baltimore lost 4-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays thus ended their three-game losing streak against the leaders of the American East Section.
Fujinami had to go for the third out in the sixth, with the score 1-1. He conceded a walk to George Springer early on, to fill the bases. He then hit Matt Chapman and Danny Jensen in quick succession, to give the local favorites two points.
“I was trying to do too much,” Fujinami lamented through an interpreter. I wanted so badly to have a withdrawal and I rushed things. My shooting mechanics weren’t up to snuff. »
Springer then scored a third run in that inning when a Daulton Varsho strike eluded shortstop Jorge Mateo.
Springer staved off an unenviable Blue Jays record by avoiding a 36th straight at-bat without a hit. He pushed Brandon Belt home with a single in the fourth.
With 35, he still holds this unflattering mark in the company of Ed Sprague (1994) and Danny Jansen (2022).
Erik Swanson ended the game by mis-footing Jordan Westburg at first base. It was his third save of the season.
Grayson Rodriguez (2-3) gave up three runs, two hits and two walks in five and two-thirds innings.
At work in the seventh and eighth, Cole Irvin only allowed one strike to a safe place.
Yusei Kikuchi (9-3) gave up two points or less in a fourth straight game. This time he gave up one run, six hits and one free pass in six innings. Yimi Garcia and Jordan Hicks protected the Jays lead before Swanson arrived.
“All my throws were working,” Kikuchi said through a translator. From the start, I wanted to give the maximum. »
“Their pitchers were really good tonight,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde conceded. Kikuchi has been outstanding and their successor too. It was hard to score. »
Belt hit the trails three times, crossing home plate twice.
James McCann tied the game in the fifth, scoring with an infield single from Adley Rutschman.
Paul DeJong was playing his first game with the Blue Jays after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline on Tuesday. He replaced Bo Bichette at shortstop. He was shut out in three at bats.
The fourth and final game of this series will take place on Thursday, starting at 3:07 p.m.