Pete Alonso’s second home run of the game and 40th of the season lifted the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 comeback victory against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series Monday night.
Alonso’s two-run shot with two outs in the eighth inning gave Baltimore its first lead of the game. The Orioles (76-81) are on the verge of playoff elimination in the American League wild card chase but this revived their postseason hopes.
It was a blow to the Blue Jays (77-80), who are also pursuing the same prize.
Alonso also homered in the first inning and Gunnar Henderson went deep in the sixth inning. Henderson tripled among his three hits, coming up a double shy of the cycle.
Toronto’s six pitchers combined on a six-hitter. Tyler Rogers (2-3) gave up the decisive home run. George Springer had two singles for the Blue Jays, who lost for the fifth time in their last seven games.
Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage worked just two innings in his first big-league outing since August 4th. He was charged with Alonso’s first homer of the night.
Orioles starter Shane Baz logged 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Yennier Cano (4-3) worked 1 1/3 innings for the victory and Rico Garcia pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
Following a pregame weather delay, the Blue Jays struck for three first-inning runs. Nathan Lukes drove in the first run with a single. Springer’s single made it 2-0 and Sean Keys followed with a sacrifice fly.
Alonso countered with a solo homer with one out in the first inning, snapping a miserable streak for the Orioles. They entered the game having not scored in their previous 19 innings — all against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Baltimore didn’t have another hit until the fourth inning when Henderson tripled with one out, but that didn’t result in a run that inning.
