Orioles win 4-2 and continue to cause trouble for Blue Jays

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Back-to-back home runs by Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman in the fifth inning kicked off the Baltimore Orioles’ comeback on Tuesday night and a 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. .

The Orioles (61-55) won 10 of 14 games in August and are just half a game behind the Blue Jays and third and last in the AHL draft standings.

The Blue Jays (61-54) have won just two of their last 10 outings.

« You just have to have confidence in yourself, » said Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit a two-run homer, his 25th of the season, in the first inning.

“I told the guys to stay confident and keep working hard. One way or another, the tide will turn,” added Guerrero Jr.

With the score at 2-2 after the home runs, the Orioles added two runs in the sixth inning against Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah (12-6).

Terrin Vavra walked a base after one out. He grounded to second base and scored on a Ramon Urias single to center field.

On the sequence, Jackie Bradley Jr. juggled the ball, and Urias was able to get to second base. He then crossed home on a solid single from Ryan McKenna to right field against reliever Anthony Bass.

Blue Jays right fielder Teoscar Hernandez had the opportunity to take Urias out at the plate, but catcher Alejandro Kirk was unable to control Hernandez’s throw, which bounced past him.

Dean Kremer (5-4), the Orioles starter, was effective in seven innings of work. He allowed two runs, seven hits and one walk. He recorded six strikeouts.

For his part, Manoah threw 107 pitches during his five and two-thirds innings stint on the mound. He gave up four runs, four hits and four walks, but he also had seven strikeouts.

The Blue Jays missed a great opportunity to add to their lead in the third, when Matt Chapman hit a double play with the bases all busy to end the inning.

« The key is that we don’t do the job with runners in scoring position, » Guerrero explained, when asked what the difference was between the current struggles and the seven-game winning streak all just before the All-Star game break a few weeks ago.

However, with the exception of a single to the infield by Santiago Espinal in the fourth inning and his hit with a bunt in the seventh inning, the Blue Jays have not fielded any another rider on the trails for the last six rounds.

« We’re still in a playoff position, and we know we’re a playoff capable team, » Manoah said.

“We are having some difficulties at the moment, but we will get back on track.”

The Blue Jays are 15-12 overall since John Schneider took over as interim manager in place of Charlie Montoyo, who was fired last year.

« It’s a united group, and it’s a really talented group, » Schneider said.

« We have no doubt that we’re going to be playing better baseball very soon, and I know of the players we have and the veterans that are established, I know they’re going to rise again. »