(Toronto) Ryan Mountcastle fired the ball twice in three at bats, driving in three runs, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Monday. However, it was Bo Bichette’s self-inflicted injury that caught the eye after the match.
Bichette left the game late in the third inning with a right knee injury. After hitting a single to right field at the expense of Kyle Gibson (10-6), he slowed his run by rounding first base. Bringing his hand to his knee, he was taken down by Jorge Mateo.
He was replaced by Santiago Espinal.
“We’re still gathering information to see what we’re going to do next,” manager John Schneider said. We will probably know more [Tuesday]. »
“He’s our best player, so we’re waiting a lot more anxiously than you [the reporters] are,” added starter Chris Bassitt (10-6). Every player will have to have a mentality of doing more, but overall it’s not good for us. »
Bichette leads the American League with a .321 batting average and 144 hits. He has 17 home runs and 59 RBIs in 106 games.
He was also the leader in hits in the American in 2021 and 2022, each time being invited to the All-Star Game.
Gunnar Henderson hit a solo homer, helping the Orioles (65-41) kick off that all-important four-game series with a win. They extended their lead to 6.5 games over the Jays.
Gibson allowed one run, four hits and two walks in six innings. Relievers Danny Coulombe, Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista then held off a late push from the Jays.
Whit Merrifield hit a long ball in the eighth inning to allow the Jays (59-48) to threaten. Kevin Kiermaier pushed a teammate to the plate under an optional.
Bassitt had a tough six-inning outing, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks. He had seven strikeouts. Nate Pearson and Bowden Francis combined for the remaining three sets without allowing a run.
Although Bassitt started the game with two straight strikeouts, the Orioles quickly got on the board.
Anthony Santander racked up a free pass with a full count and Ryan O’Hearn then hit a single. Santander narrowly avoided the out at third base to get into scoring position.
Mountcastle hit a double, allowing Santander and O’Hearn to hit the plate.
Henderson scored a run with a home run early in the third. Mountcastle struck again before the end of the inning, driving Santander home with a sacrifice fly. He then circled the trails himself to extend the visitors’ lead to 4-0.
