Blue Jays, nearing the end, take series from Orioles

In a long, and, at times, frivolously played series against the lowly Baltimore Orioles, the Blue Jays clawed and limped their way to a relatively impressive series victory in their second-to-last series of the season.

Here’s a look at the good, the bad, and the weird from this week’s series at Rogers Centre:

Anthony Alford (2-for-6, 3 R, HR, RBI, BB, SB) was the hero in Tuesday’s 15-inning marathon, while Cavan Biggio (1-for-8, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 6(!) BB) and Billy McKinney (3-for-8, 2 R, HR, RBI, 2 BB) were both productive. Rowdy Tellez (5-for-11, 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB) exploded in the finale as well.

In the bullpen, Jason Adam (2.0 IP, H, 0 R/ER, BB, 3 SO, W) tossed a pair of solid frames, with Buddy Boshers (2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, BB, 3 SO), Ken Giles (2.0 IP, H, 0 R/ER, 3 SO, SV), Elvis Luciano (2.0 IP, H, 0 R/ER, SO), and Ryan Tepera (2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, SO) contributing nice outings. Jacob Waguespack (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, W) was excellent in the finale, dropping his ERA to 4.38.

Brandon Drury (2-for-13, R, HR, RBI, BB, 2 SO) continued to struggle, dropping his slash line to .219/.262(!)/.383, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2-for-14, R, RBI, 3 SO), Teoscar Hernandez (2-for-10, 2 SO), Danny Jansen (0-for-6, 0 TB, SO), and Breyvic Valera (1-for-9, RBI, SO) all faltered.

Clay Buchholz (4.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R/ER, 3 HR, HB, 3 BB, 4 SO) was rocked in his second straight start, with fellow hurlers Wilmer Font (2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 2 HR, BB, 3 SO), Jordan Romano (2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, HR, HB, BB), Sam Gaviglio (1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, BB, 2 SO), Derek Law (0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, SO), and Thomas Pannone (2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R/ER, L) all getting roughed up as well. In continuing with the trend, Brock Stewart (0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, HR, HB, BB) was also demolished by the O’s offence.

According to Blue Jays media associate Rodney Hiemstra on Twitter, Anthony Alford’s walk-off home run in the 15-inning of Tuesday’s game made him just the second player in history to hit a walk-off home run in the 15th inning or later as his first career home run, the other being Valmy Thomas of the Giants in 1957.

In the final series of the season, the Blue Jays will welcome the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays (95-64) to town, where they’ll send T.J. Zeuch (1-1, 4.58 ERA, 16 SO), Trent Thornton (5-9, 5.00 ERA, 141 SO), and Clay Buchholz (1-5, 7.00 ERA, 33 SO) to the hill against three Rays hurlers that have yet to be announced.