O's Bullpen Loses Hess' No-Hit Bid In Win Vs. Blue Jays
TORONTO (AP) — David Hess was pulled after 6 1/3 hitless innings, but the Baltimore Orioles bullpen couldn't see the bid through in a 6-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.
Hess struck out eight and walked one before first-year manager Brandon Hyde pulled him after 82 pitches. Reliever Pedro Araujo walked Justin Smoak then allowed a two-run homer to Randal Grichuk for Toronto's first hit.
Jonathan Villar and Trey Mancini homered for Baltimore, which won its third straight, including the last two of its season-opening series against the New York Yankees. Left-hander Richard Bleier picked up his first save of the season.
It was the second time this season the Blue Jays have been no-hit into the seventh inning. Detroit right-hander Jordan Zimmermann retired 20 Toronto batters on opening day before Teoscar Hernandez singled to end his perfect game.
Hess had a 0.95 ERA in three games against the Blue Jays last season. He pitched in relief on opening day, throwing two scoreless innings. He was 3-10 with a 4.88 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) for the 115-loss Orioles last season.
After a team-record 24 consecutive scoreless innings from the Blue Jays starters to begin the season, things unraveled early for Sean Reid-Foley (0-1). Recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to make his eighth career start, he endured a rough outing, giving up five hits and five runs, three earned, while walking two and striking out three in two innings.
With a runner on in the first, Villar drove the fifth pitch he saw into the Blue Jays bullpen in left field for his first home run of the season.
The Blue Jays could have gotten out of the inning with a double play two batters later, but an error by shortstop Freddy Galvis kept the inning going, and the lead was doubled on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch by Reid-Foley.
Mancini increased the lead in the second, driving in Cedric Mullins on a sacrifice fly. He added his second home run of the season in the seventh inning, a solo shot to center field.
Galvis got one run back in the eighth inning with his first home run on the year.
The Blue Jays added two more in the bottom of the ninth off of Bleier, with Brandon Drury scoring on a sacrifice fly and Hernandez's triple that drove in Grichuk. But the left-hander struck out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to preserve the victory.
Orioles slugger Chris Davis was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts. He is 0 for 9 with five strikeouts this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: Top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (strained oblique) has resumed baseball activities after being out since March 8, making appearances in extended spring training in Dunedin, Florida. Toronto's plan is to have the third baseman report to Triple-A Buffalo at some point but is mindful of the cold weather in Western New York and doesn't want him to reinjure himself.
Manager Charlie Montoyo said that RHP Clay Bucholtz (right flexor) will throw 60 pitches on Tuesday and 75 on April 7, and could be in line to pitch against Tampa on April 13.
RHP Ryan Tepera (right elbow) and LHP Ryan Borucki (left elbow) are scheduled to throw side sessions on Wednesday.
Orioles: Renato Nunez served as designated hitter once again on Monday, but Hyde said the biceps soreness that limited him in spring training has subsided somewhat, allowing him to play first or third base if required.
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