The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a humiliating 13-3 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Rogers Centre, a game that got so out of hand that catcher Tyler Heineman was called upon to pitch in the ninth inning. The loss was the third straight for the Blue Jays against the Orioles, who have now scored a combined 22 runs in the last two meetings between the teams.
A Night That Started with Promise
The evening began with the Rogers Centre roof open, but it closed just before the Orioles were set to bat in the top of the fourth inning. The symbolism was fitting, as the roof seemed to cave in on Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage, who struggled for the second consecutive outing. Yesavage lasted only 5.2 innings, allowing five hits, including two home runs, and five runs. His command issues were evident, as he had walked seven batters in his previous start against the same Orioles team last Saturday in Baltimore.
Despite the eventual blowout, the Blue Jays actually held a 3-1 lead after five innings, thanks in part to a two-run home run by Brandon Valenzuela. However, the Orioles exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to take control of the game. The Blue Jays' offense, which had shown signs of life the night before against the Atlanta Braves, went quiet after the fifth inning.
Valenzuela Shines, But Bullpen Collapses
Brandon Valenzuela continued to make a strong case for staying on the big-league roster. His two-run blast in the fifth inning gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead and was his sixth home run of the season, tying him for second on the team. Valenzuela has been a pleasant surprise since being called up to replace the injured Alejandro Kirk, who is recovering from a fractured thumb.
However, the Blue Jays' bullpen could not hold the lead. After Yesavage departed, the relievers allowed eight runs, turning a competitive game into a rout. The Orioles piled on, scoring three runs in the seventh, two in the eighth, and three more in the ninth.
Heineman Takes the Mound
With the game well out of reach, Blue Jays manager John Schneider turned to catcher Tyler Heineman to pitch the ninth inning. Heineman needed only one pitch to record the final out, a groundout, but the damage had already been done. The 13-3 loss was the Blue Jays' most lopsided defeat of the season.
The Blue Jays also lost center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed from the game in the fourth inning due to left wrist discomfort. His status for the remainder of the series is uncertain.
Bassitt Honored, Rotation News
Before the game, the Blue Jays honored former pitcher Chris Bassitt, who spent three seasons in Toronto. Bassitt, now with the Orioles, blew a kiss to the fans from the visiting dugout when his image appeared on the scoreboard. He did not pitch in Friday's game but faced his former team last weekend in Baltimore.
On the injury front, the Blue Jays received positive news regarding their starting rotation. Dylan Cease has rejoined the big-league club and is expected to return to the rotation as early as next week. Max Scherzer made another rehab start with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Friday, throwing 73 pitches over 3.2 innings, with his fastball averaging 93.4 mph and touching 95.7 mph. Additionally, recently acquired Simeon Woods Richardson reported to the team and was active for the series opener.
In a corresponding move, Chad Dallas, who earned the win in his MLB debut Thursday in Atlanta, was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Jays had not announced their scheduled starter for Saturday's game as of Friday night, while the Orioles will send right-hander Kyle Bradish to the mound. Bradish started the series finale in Baltimore last week, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings in a 9-5 Orioles win. The Blue Jays will look to bounce back and avoid falling further behind in the tightly contested AL East race.
