TORONTO – In the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday, Pete Alonso whipped a baseball down the right-field line in frustration.
Brandon Valenzuela had just hit into a potential inning-ending double play, only that’s not how second base umpire Nic Lentz saw it. Valenzuela was out at first – everyone agreed on that much – but the Orioles believed Clement had strayed outside the basepath while avoiding a tag from Gunnar Henderson and should therefore be out.
When Lentz called Clement safe, Henderson objected immediately while Orioles manager Craig Albernaz hopped over the dugout rail and Alonso threw the ball into foul territory in frustration. But despite the Orioles’ complaints, the call stood, giving way to a five-run rally that set in motion a 6-4 win.
With the win, the Toronto Blue Jays improve to 32-34 on the season and continue hovering on the edges of the American League wild-card race.
Before the controversial play near second base, Yohendrick Piñango started the Blue Jays’ rally with his fourth home run of the season. Kazuma Okamoto would later add an RBI single while Andres Gimenez contributed an RBI double and Nathan Lukes pinch hit with an RBI single of his own.
Gimenez also displayed some impressive baserunning, scoring on a Lukes single that never left the infield.
Later, Valenzuela hit his seventh home run of the season to provide some insurance. Not only does the home run raise his season OPS to .822, it puts him second on the team in home runs with seven – a remarkable achievement for someone who began the season as the organization’s third-string catcher.
At this point, it’s clear Valenzuela’s an important part of this team, so when Alejandro Kirk returns – potentially in the next week – there’s a strong case for keeping the switch-hitter around. Sunday marked his third consecutive start, reflecting the Blue Jays’ growing trust in him.
But while the supporting cast of players came through, George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., combined to go hitless in eight at-bats. Adding to the frustration, a late challenge by Guerrero Jr. cost the Blue Jays a chance to challenge a missed strike with Tyler Rogers on the mound.
On the pitching side, Kevin Gausman got off to a strong start before struggling in the fifth inning when he allowed four runs, including homers by Colton Cowser and Taylor Ward. All told, the right-hander allowed four runs on five hits while striking out five.
After Gausman’s exit, Adam Macko, Connor Seabold, Rogers and Louis Varland each provided scoreless outings to preserve the lead and earn an important win over a division rival.
Next up, the Philadelphia Phillies arrive with a formidable trio of pitchers in Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo. It’s a tough trio, but with Dylan Cease and Max Scherzer getting closer to a big-league return, the Blue Jays might finally be restabilizing their own rotation.
And after a series win against Baltimore, they’re still very much in the playoff race.