(Baltimore) Vladimir Guerrero hit a 32e circuit and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 in a rain-shortened game on Monday.
Updated at 1:02 a.m.
The game was stopped after two outs in the top of the eighth. We waited 55 minutes, then the meeting was declared official.
After the meeting, the Blue Jays learned that they will host a first-round series, as the best club among those who did not obtain a section title.
That news came to fruition with the Seattle Mariners losing 4-3 to the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.
They will receive the second team drafted from the American. Their opponent will be the highest ranked club between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 2020, the Toronto club was swept by the Rays in the first round. It was the Blue Jays’ first time in the playoffs since 2016. The New York Yankees won the Nationals East Division title from the Blue Jays just days before.
“There was only one goal when the game started and that was to win the game,” Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider said. “We can never say enough about how the guys responded. “.
Whit Merrifield hit three singles, including one that drove in two runs. That hit broke the 0-0 tie in the second inning. The Jays cruised to their fourth straight win.
Jose Berrios (12-7) gave up one run and three hits in six innings, striking out five batters. He had struggled in his last two outings, allowing 11 runs in seven and a third innings.
“I thought we were going to start late, but we started on time,” Berrios said. I came in with the goal of being competitive and winning, and we did. The mound was wet and raining throughout the evening. »
Anthony Santander slammed a sacrifice fly for the Orioles, who had just three hits. Jorge Mateo meanwhile stole a 35e goal, a top in the American.
Dean Kremer (8-7) allowed four runs and six hits in six innings.
“It’s not easy playing in these conditions,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. Overall it was a hard night marked by rain and cold. Dean was a bit affected by it all. He was not at the level he used to us. »
Tuesday’s starting pitchers will be Mitch White and Mike Baumann.