By Canadian Press

Belt’s homer in 10th inning lifts Blue Jays past Orioles 6-3

Aug 22, 2023 | 8:46 PM

BALTIMORE (AP) — Brandon Belt homered on Mike Baumann’s first pitch in the 10th inning, Daulton Varsho hit a two-run home run in the second and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Tuesday night.

The loss ended the Orioles’ three-game winning streak and cut their lead in the AL East over second-place Tampa Bay to two games.

With Bo Bichette on second base as the automatic runner in the 10th, Belt hit a liner into the right-field seats for his 14th homer, the third in two games. The Blue Jays have won five of seven and hit seven home runs in their last two games.

Toronto added a run in the 10th on a wild pitch by Baumann (9-1), the first reliever in Orioles history to win his first nine decisions.

Tim Mayza (3-1) worked a perfect ninth and Jordan Romano got three outs for his 31st save in 34 tries.

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Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi gave up three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. It was the first time in seven starts since July 6 that the left-hander allowed more than two earned runs.

The Orioles trailed 3-1 in the fifth before chasing Kikuchi and pulling even against reliever Yimi Garcia. Jorge Mateo scored after Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen threw wildly to second base on a double steal, and Garcia yielded a two-out RBI double to rookie Jordan Westburg.

Earlier, after Austin Hays doubled in a first-inning run for Baltimore, Toronto went ahead in the second when rookie starter Grayson Rodriquez issued a leadoff walk and Varsho homered on an 0-2 pitch. Kevin Kiermaier added an RBI double in the fourth.

STREAK ON

Baltimore’s Ryan Mountcastle received an intentional walk in the ninth to extend his career-high run of reaching base to 27 consecutive games. Before the walk, he was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

WELL NOW

Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells was optioned to double-A Bowie in late July after he struggled in three straight starts, possibly because he had already pitched a career-high 113 2/3 innings. After being used sparingly at Bowie, Wells was transferred to triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. He will pitch out of the bullpen on Wednesday, a role he might assume upon returning to Baltimore. “We’re going to shorten his outings, have him throw less pitches and less innings and see how that goes,” manager Brandon Hyde said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was in the starting lineup after leaving Sunday’s game against Cincinnati in the fourth inning with discomfort in his left middle finger.

Orioles: OF Anthony Santander missed a third straight start with a lower back injury. “He’s feeling a lot better today,” said Hyde, adding that Santander was available off the bench.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (9-7, 3.24 ERA) on Wednesday night makes his fifth career start against Baltimore, where he pitched from 2013-18. He’s 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA versus the Orioles.

Orioles: Jack Flaherty is 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA in three starts with Baltimore since being obtained in an Aug. 1 trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

David Ginsburg, The Associated Press