Morales' HR In 9th Lifts Jays Over O's 2-1, Stops Skid
TORONTO (AP) — Kendrys Morales homered off Tyler Wilson leading off the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays stopped a seven-game losing seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.
Roberto Osuna (1-0) had allowed Jonathan Schoop's sacrifice fly in the top half. Toronto, off to the poorest start in franchise history, is just 2-9 this season and has scored three runs or fewer eight times.
Morales homered on the first pitch of the inning from Wilson (1-1), who entered with two outs in the eighth and retired Jose Bautista on a flyout to strand a runner at second. It was the second home run of the season for Morales, who hit a grand slam in a 5-2 win at Tampa Bay on April 6.
Alec Asher, recalled from Triple-A to fill the fifth slot in Baltimore's rotation, gave up one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings in his Orioles debut.
Toronto went ahead in the seventh when Asher hit Jose Bautista with a pitch leading off, took second on Troy Tulowitzki's one-out single and scored on pinch-hitter Darwin Barney's two-out single off Donny Hart. Bautista slide into the plate as center fielder Adam Jones' throw bounced past catcher Welington Castillo.
UMPIRE CHECK
Umpire Dale Scott, who sustained a concussion after being hit by a foul tip in Friday night's game, was released from a hospital early Saturday but did not work the game. Scott said he felt OK and results of a CT scan were normal.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: To make room for Asher on the 25-man roster, Baltimore optioned RHP Stefan Crichton to Triple-A Norfolk.
Blue Jays: After being called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Josh Donaldson, who was placed on the 10-day DL, utilityman Chris Coghlan made his 30th big league start at third base. Coghlan was 0 for 2 in his Toronto debut.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (1-1, 2.70 ERA) gave up just one run in seven innings of work during a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays on April 5.
Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (0-2, 5.40) faces Bundy and the Orioles for the second time this season.
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