TORONTO — Nights like this, you can see what the 2024 Toronto Blue Jays were supposed to look like.
On the mound, Chris Bassitt kept a talented, young Baltimore Orioles lineup off-balance with eight different pitches on his way to one of his best starts of the season. On defence, the Blue Jays were phenomenal, saving multiple hits with their gloves. And at the plate, they came up with big hits when it counted most – none bigger than Alejandro Kirk’s three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Add in some quality work from relievers Genesis Cabrera and Chad Green, and the Blue Jays thoroughly out-played a Baltimore team that began the day tied for the MLB lead in wins. In the course of a disappointing season, these games have been hard to come by for the Blue Jays.
Even then, the game wasn’t without a little late drama as Craig Kimbrel hit Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the back in the bottom of the seventh inning, at which point manager John Schneider burst out of the dugout yelling, “that’s bull(crap)” in the direction of Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.
Assigning intent is always challenging, but it’s easy to see why the Blue Jays had their defences up: their best player was plunked in the first game between these two teams since Blue Jays reliever Yerry Rodriguez broke the hand of Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg last Wednesday.
The inning before he took a fastball between the numbers, Guerrero Jr. started a five-run rally by pushing an inside heater to right field for an opposite-field hit that extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Spencer Horwitz followed with another single, setting up Kirk’s three run shot, a line drive over the left field wall that was just his third of the season.
For the first five innings, the Blue Jays managed nothing against Albert Suarez, a late replacement for Grayson Rodriguez who was scratched with a lat injury. But later in the sixth, Addison Barger hit a two-run double to add insurance runs that the Blue Jays would end up needing.
Really, though, the Blue Jays won this game because of pitching and defence. Through seven innings, Bassitt allowed just one run, a solo homer to Jackson Holliday on a cutter nicely placed on the inside corner. Credit to the 20-year-old Holliday, he made an adjustment after Bassitt fooled him on a slow curve the first time up.
Aside from the Holliday homer, Bassitt was at his unpredictable best on his way to a season-high nine strikeouts. His slow stuff was especially effective, with his curve and sweeper fooling the Orioles over and over on a night his season ERA dropped to 3.95.
But Bassitt also had support from his defence, as Varsho robbed Gunnar Henderson at the right-centre field wall, Joey Loperfido showed off his range with a pair of running catches, and infielders Leo Jimenez, Ernie Clement and Addison Barger made one impressive play apiece.
All told, it was the kind of team effort that’s often eluded the 2024 Blue Jays. But facing one of the game’s best teams, they made it look easy this time.
In a thrilling matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, the Blue Jays showcased an impressive team effort to secure a victory. From stellar pitching to clutch hitting, every player on the Blue Jays roster contributed to the win in a display of teamwork and determination.
The game got off to a strong start for the Blue Jays, with starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu delivering a dominant performance on the mound. Ryu kept the Orioles’ hitters off balance with his pinpoint control and deceptive off-speed pitches, allowing only two runs over seven innings of work. His ability to work deep into the game and keep the Orioles’ offense in check set the tone for the rest of the team.
Offensively, the Blue Jays were firing on all cylinders, with key contributions from multiple players throughout the lineup. Bo Bichette led the charge with a three-run home run in the third inning, giving the Blue Jays an early lead that they would not relinquish. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also had a big game at the plate, driving in two runs with a double in the fifth inning to extend the Blue Jays’ lead.
Defensively, the Blue Jays were sharp as well, making several key plays in the field to support their pitching staff. Center fielder George Springer made a spectacular diving catch in the seventh inning to rob the Orioles of a potential extra-base hit, while third baseman Cavan Biggio made a heads-up play to cut down a runner at home plate in the eighth inning to preserve the lead.
Overall, the Blue Jays’ victory over the Orioles was a testament to their depth and talent as a team. Every player on the roster contributed in some way to the win, whether it was with their bat, their glove, or their arm. The Blue Jays’ ability to come together and play as a cohesive unit was on full display in this game, and it bodes well for their prospects as they continue their push for a playoff spot.