Stroman Sharp, Blue Jays Homer Twice In 4-0 Win Over Orioles
TORONTO (AP) — Marcus Stroman pitched five-hit ball into the eighth inning, Jose Bautista and Justin Smoak homered, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-0 on Wednesday night.
Stroman (8-4) bounced back nicely from his worst start of the season, a seven-run outing at Texas last Thursday. The right-hander allowed five singles and struck out seven to win for the first time since June 10 at Seattle.
The Orioles had won three in a row.
Stroman left to a standing ovation after Seth Smith's two-out single in the eighth. Danny Barnes came on and walked Manny Machado, putting a runner in scoring position for Baltimore for the first time. Barnes escaped the jam by striking out Jonathan Schoop.
Roberto Osuna struck out the side in the ninth, finishing a five-hitter. The Blue Jays improved to 3-8 against the Orioles.
Bautista hit a leadoff homer in the first and Smoak added his career-best 21st to begin the fourth. Both homers came off left-hander Wade Miley (3-6), who allowed four runs, three earned, in five innings.
Bautista's drive was his ninth career leadoff homer, the first by a Blue Jays batter this season. The shot to right was Bautista's first opposite-field blast since Sept. 12, 2015.
Smoak has hit more home runs before the All-Star break than any switch hitter since Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira had 22 in 2015.
Toronto used two hits and a walk to load the bases later in the fourth. Bautista hit a run-scoring fielder's choice, and a second run scored on Schoop's throwing error.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: LHP Zach Britton (strained forearm) will pitch in the later innings in his scheduled rehab appearances Friday at Class-A Frederick and Monday at Triple-A Norfolk in a bid to duplicate his regular role in the ninth.
Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (blister) will make a second rehab start, either with Class A Dunedin or Triple-A Buffalo, before being activated off the disabled list, manager John Gibbons said.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-3, 7.26 ERA) allowed a season-worst nine runs in his previous start, a June 23 loss at Tampa Bay. He is 7-5 in 18 career games against Toronto.
Blue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (2-4, 3.83 ERA) is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in his past three starts. He is winless in two outings against Baltimore this season.
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