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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays’ comeback attempt falls short as Orioles ambush Toronto’s arms in series finale
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Photo credit: © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
May 31, 2026, 15:39 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays fell 9-5 in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, ensuring they’d leave Baltimore with no better than a series split. 
Spencer Miles was tasked with the second start of his MLB career, and the Orioles got to the young right-hander, tagging Miles for six runs over three innings. It was the 25-year-old’s worst outing since taking an expanded role on the Blue Jays’ pitching staff. 
After a scoreless first inning, the Orioles relied on small ball to push across the game’s opening run. Pete Alonso opened with a single, followed by a Samuel Basallo walk, which led to Orioles manager Craig Albernaz signalling for Leody Tavares to drop down a sacrifice bunt. The move worked out as the following batter, Colton Cowser, grounded out to second base, but even with a drawn-in Ernie Clement, the Orioles took the lead. 
The third inning is where the Orioles ultimately put the game out of reach. After recording the leadoff batter, Taylor Ward, to open the frame, Miles ran into trouble, allowing a single, a walk, a single, and a double, which stretched the lead to 3-0. Miles struck out Tavares for the second out of the inning, but Cowser put together the biggest swing of the day, launching a three-run home run 424 feet to the right-center field seats to make it a 6-0 game. 
Cowser put together a strong afternoon, going 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. After getting off to a slow start to begin the year, Cowser has heated up at the plate over his past 15 games, going 12-for-34 over his past 15 games with four home runs and 11 RBIs. 
That would be it for Miles, who finished his afternoon with a pitching line of 3.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. The right-hander now holds a 2-1 record, 3.47 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 36.1 innings pitched. If Miles remains in his same role, pitching every fifth day, his next outing will come next weekend against these same Orioles. 
Adam Macko followed Miles and continued the impressive run he’s been on to open his MLB career. The left-hander tossed two shutout frames, allowing only one hit, and recording one strikeout. Through eight games, Macko has a 1-0 record, a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, and is slowly becoming a bigger part of the Blue Jays’ bullpen. 
After being called up from Triple-A Buffalo yesterday, Hayden Juenger made his MLB debut and wasn’t welcomed very warmly by the Orioles. Juenger opened by going walk, single, walk, before finally retiring Cowser for his first career out on a RBI groundout. 
Another walk was followed by a forceout, but Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson put a dent in Jeunger’s line, ripping a two-run double to left center field to make it 8-0. Adley Rutschman followed with a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 9-0 and closing the 25-year-old’s day with a pitching line of 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K. 
Orioles starter Kyle Bradish made the first seven innings of Sunday’s contest miserable for many throughout the Blue Jays’ lineup. The right-hander turned in a line of 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, allowing his lone unearned run in the seventh after a Jackson Holliday throwing error. The 29-year-old now has a 3-6 record, 3.44 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 12 starts. The Blue Jays will get another crack at Bradish next weekend as he is scheduled to throw on Saturday, June 6, during the middle game of their upcoming three-game set. 
The Blue Jays were able to close the gap late off Orioles reliever Tyler Wells with Yohendrick Piñango slamming his third career MLB home run onto Eutaw Street to make it a 9-5 game. Piñango continues to give manager John Schneider a reason to write his name on the lineup card every game. The 24-year-old is batting .294 with three home runs and 16 RBIs, reaching base at a .333 clip through his first 29 games. 
The Blue Jays (29-31) will be off on Monday after a stretch of 17 games in 17 days before opening a three-game set with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday at Truist Park. Kevin Gausman will toe the rubber in the opener, with the Braves’ starter yet to be announced. 

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