Orioles explode for 5 runs in 11th inning to send Blue Jays to fourth straight loss

Cedric Mullins had a two-run double as part of a five-run 11th inning as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Sunday.

Dean Kremer allowed nine hits and two walks, but held the Blue Jays to one run, striking out seven in 5 1/2 innings.

Cionel Pérez, Mychal Givens, Danny Coulombe, Austin Voth, and Mike Baumann all came out of the Orioles’ bullpen, and Baumann picked up the win.

Matt Chapman homered and a sacrifice fly as Toronto (25-22) lost for the fourth straight time. Whit Merrifield’s RBI single in the tenth inning kept the Blue Jays alive and rookie left fielder Nathan Lukes got his first major league hit after eight minor league seasons.

Kevin Gausman allowed two runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four in eight no-decision innings. Nate Pearson, Yimi Garcia and Anthony Bass came on in relief, with Garcia taking the loss.

A 10-game homestand at Rogers Center promised an early-season test for the Blue Jays, as they hosted the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and division rival Yankees. New York and the Orioles.

With a 4-6 record at home, the Blue Jays finished fifth in the AL East when they head to Tampa Bay on Monday to face the division-leading Rays in a four-game series.

Chapman homered at Rogers Center for the first time since April 11 to lead off the second inning. Kremer’s 420-foot throw also ended a 28-game homerless streak for Chapman dating back to April 18 when he had a solo shot in Toronto’s 4-2 win at Houston.

Baltimore took the lead the next inning by driving in a pair of runs.

Rutschman managed the first run when he missed. Although Blue Jays second baseman Whit Merrifield threw an impressive throw from the knees to reach Rutschman at first, Joey Ortiz had plenty of time to cross to the plate.

Kevin Kiermaier made a standout catch in the fourth inning, jumping up and extending his glove to the top of the outfield wall to rob Gunnar Henderson of an insurance double.

The 41,643 sold-out spectators gave Kiermaier a standing ovation as a replay aired on the stadium’s video screen. Gausman also greeted Kiermaier from the mound for what could easily have been a run-scoring hit with Austin Hays already on first thanks to a walk.

Toronto threatened to take the lead in the sixth when, with one out, pinch hitter Danny Jansen was walked to load the bases. Kiermaier then came to the plate and hit into a double play to end the inning.

The Blue Jays tied it 2–2 in another bases-loaded situation in the seventh when Chapman hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field, allowing George Springer to score from third.

Toronto’s defense falls apart

Mullins led off the tenth inning with a single to right, scoring Jorge Mateo, who started the extra frame at second.

Merrifield kept the Blue Jays alive, however, with his one-out single in the bottom of the 10th charging Daulton Varsho, who also started the inning at second, to tie it 3-3.

Hays had his RBI single with one out and two on, scoring Ryan McKenna, who led off the inning at second. Henderson loaded the bases with a single in the next at-bat, and Vavra’s single scored Adam Frazier and Hays.

That led to Mullins hitting for the second time in as many innings. He doubled to deep right center to score Vavra and Henderson for an 8-3 Orioles lead.

Chris Bassitt takes his 5-2 record to the mound as the Blue Jays open a four-game series in Tampa Bay.

Josh Fleming (0-0) goes for the Rays for the 6:40 pm ET start.