(Baltimore) Alek Manoah struck out 22 of the last 23 batters he faced in eight innings of work as the Toronto Blue Jays wrapped up their series against the Baltimore Orioles with a 4-1 win on Wednesday.
Updated yesterday at 11:33 p.m.
“We’re working for that,” Manoah said. We wanted to take part in important matches and wanted to take advantage of them. »
The Canadian club won three of four games in the series to take a four and a half game lead over the Orioles in the American League draft standings.
Manoah (14-7) allowed a run in the first inning, but the Orioles were unable to send another runner on base until the sixth inning.
The Queen City team scored three in the fifth over Dean Kremer (6-5) and left Camden Yards with a good chance of making the playoffs. However, the two teams still have to face each other six times.
“It will take wins. We need to win playoffs, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. We had won the last five series before this one. We have to recover and keep winning series. »
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead thanks to a Ryan Mountcastle double. However, the last out of the opening inning started a 14-out streak by Manoah. The right-handed gunner allowed three hits and a walk while striking out five batters.
“Our offense, I guess, didn’t quite click, but we won three of four games against a good team,” Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider said. “So it starts and ends with our starting pitcher. »
Jordan Romano struck out two batters in the ninth and got a 31e salvage at his 35e opportunity this season.
Upon returning to action, Tyler Wells pitched the first two innings for the Orioles. He allowed a ground ball to Lourdes Gurriel Jr., which tied the score in the second set.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk drove in the Blue Jays’ first two runs in the fifth inning. Rookie catcher Adley Rutschman then allowed John Schneider’s men to score another run when his throw to first base missed the target.
Kremer allowed two earned runs and six hits in five and a third innings.
Kirk hit three hits.
Prior to the game, the Blue Jays recalled receiver Gabriel Moreno and right-hander Zach Pop from the Buffalo Bisons, their AAA-level farm club. They also placed the name of outfielder Teoscar Hernandez on the paternity list.
The Toronto club also returned Mitch White to the Bisons. The right-hander went just two and a third innings in a 9-6 loss to the Orioles on Tuesday.