(Toronto) Pitch-hitter George Springer hit a single that set the tone for a six-run outburst in the seventh inning, pitcher Ross Stripling delivered a stellar performance on his return to the game and the Toronto Blue Jays easily beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-1, Wednesday afternoon.
Posted at 8:01 p.m.
Stripling was imperial, giving up just one hit in six and a third innings.
“It was exactly what the team needed and more,” Springer said of Stripling’s performance.
With this win, the Blue Jays (62-54) ended a three-game losing streak and recorded just their third win in 11 games.
For their part, the Orioles (61-56) lost for only the fifth time in 15 meetings in August. They slipped a game and a half behind the Blue Jays, however, in the fight for the third and final spot in the American League draft standings.
” [Stripling] breathed new life into the team with his return from the injured list, noted Blue Jays manager John Schneider. He was in his zone. He was a stabilizing force. »
PHOTO JON BLACKER, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Santiago Espinal
With Stripling in the dugout after a stellar performance, the Blue Jays fielded 11 batters at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Teoscar Hernandez and Bo Bichette started the drive with singles to center field. Springer came to bat for Raimel Tapia and hit a third straight single to center field, allowing Hernandez to score the game’s first run.
It was the 1000e Springer’s hit and his first as an emergency hitter.
“I’ve pinch-hit in the past, but I haven’t had a lot of success,” Springer said. I have a lot of respect for the guys who do it. »
The day after a three-hit performance, Santiago Espinal slammed a double to right center field to make it 3-0.
After a walk to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. when the bases were all occupied, Alejandro Kirk followed up with a double to left center field to score the Blue Jays’ fifth and sixth points.
Reliever Joey Krehbiel (4-4) was charged on the backhand after allowing the first two hits of the seventh inning. Cionel Perez gave the single to Springer and the double to Espinal.
Stripling was pitching without a run or hit until Cedric Mullins singled to center field to start the seventh inning.
“After the fifth inning, the no-hitter game was on my radar,” admitted Stripling.
Stripling struck out seven batters, two on fly drives and nine others on grounders. Yimi Garcia (2-4) replaced him and was credited with the win.
Stripling’s name had been on the disabled list for 15 days with a right hip injury. Last Friday, he totaled 67 pitches in five innings for the Buffalo Bisons, the Blue Jays’ AAA farm club, in a fitness start.
On Wednesday, in his first outing since July 30 with the Blue Jays, Stripling threw 72 shots.
Orioles starter Austin Voth was also good. He allowed no runs and only two hits in six innings of work.