TORONTO – The Baltimore Orioles continue to have success against the Toronto Blue Jays, and pitcher Kevin Gausman admits he’s at a loss to explain why. In their latest matchup, the Orioles defeated the Blue Jays 6-1 to win three out of four games in Toronto. This loss adds to the Blue Jays’ struggles against American League East teams this season, as they now have a 2-8 record against the Orioles and an 8-23 record against all AL East opponents. This concerning statistic is especially worrying as the Blue Jays prepare for a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox, who have won all seven of their matchups against the Blue Jays this year.
Gausman, reflecting on the Orioles and Red Sox success against the Blue Jays, suggests that both teams have a strong group of young players who are willing to listen to their hitting coaches and focus on their approach at the plate. Gausman admits he doesn’t have a definite answer for why the Blue Jays struggle against these teams.
In the recent game, Gausman had a subpar performance, giving up three runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. The Blue Jays’ offense couldn’t rally, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. providing their only run with an RBI single in the sixth inning. Despite loading the bases that inning, the Blue Jays couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity.
On the other side, Orioles pitcher Jack Flaherty dominated, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings. This was Flaherty’s first start for the Orioles since being traded from the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Orioles offense was consistent throughout the game, with Austin Hays and Adley Rutschman providing RBI singles in the second inning. Hays also drove in another run with a double in the ninth inning, contributing to the Orioles’ final score of 6-1.
The Blue Jays will now be looking to bounce back as they head to Boston for a critical three-game series. Blue Jays manager John Schneider remains optimistic, stating that they need to put this loss behind them and focus on the upcoming series against the Red Sox. Alek Manoah will take the mound for the Blue Jays, while James Paxton is scheduled to pitch for the Red Sox.
The game was also marked by a moment of silence to honor Chuck Kochman, a longtime Blue Jays photographer who passed away on Wednesday. Kochman had captured numerous iconic moments in Blue Jays history during his career from 1988 to 2017.
The Canadian Press