Things got heated as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 9-6 on Tuesday
By Evan Stack
1 year agoYou wanted a Blue Jays win tonight? How about some ejections, cleared benches, and Yusei Kikuchi getting meaningful innings in September?
Aside from a Blue Jays win, all of the above were present as Toronto dropped the third game of a four-game set to the Orioles 9-6. Aside from Bo Bichette hitting his fourth home run in two games, this one was pretty ugly for the Jays.
Toronto was plagued early on by a rough start from Mitch White. White’s first two innings were quick and efficient, but his third inning turned into a disaster. With Toronto already ahead 3-0, White walked Rougned Odor and Jorge Mateo, as well as hit Cedric Mullins to load the bases with no one out.
From there, the Orioles would record an RBI from four of their next five batters, storming ahead 5-3. White never got out of the third, as his final line stood at 2 and 1/3 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 BB, and 2 Ks. His ERA is now 5.09, way above his ERA from when we joined the team (3.70). It is also now the third straight outing that White has given up at least five runs.
The Jays got three scoreless innings between Julian Merryweather and Anthony Bass to keep things afloat, as an RBI double from Chapman cut the Orioles’ lead to one at 5-4. With one out in the sixth, however, John Schneider oddly went to Yusei Kikuchi. It went…about how you think it went, as Kikuchi allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning of work.
The Jays got that run back in the top of the 7th, as Bo Bichette came into score from a Teoscar Hernandez double play, making it 6-5. Despite this, it still begs the question: Why was Kikuchi in that situation when Anthony Bass only threw 7 pitches?
Sparks flew at the end of the inning, as Bryan Baker and his gaudy 4.24 ERA chirped at the Blue Jays dugout after striking out Matt Chapman to end the top of the 7th. Baker had given up a run on two hits, so it’s difficult understand why he had something to say. Many Blue Jays players were quick to escalate the situation as the benches cleared, suggesting that they were ready for the smoke if there was any. But, being the big man that Baker is, he immediately retreated to the dugout to grab a drink, while everyone else was still on the field. Yes, I think that is why he didn’t make it with the Blue Jays.
Schneider was ejected in the 7th after arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Jeff Nelson. I can’t lie, Schneider probably had more aggression during that ejection than Charlie Montoyo ever did. Nelson, on the other hand, might be ready for this series to be over, as he also made the balk call on Kevin Gausman yesterday.
Trevor Richards allowed three runs in the bottom of the 8th, including Alejandro Kirk being called for a block of the plate at home, and the game was put out of reach. The Blue Jays will attempt to take the series tomorrow with The Big Man, Alek Manoah, facing Dean Kremer.
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