After getting swept back-to back by playoff contenders, the Toronto Blue Jays had another hurdle to climb as they faced the Baltimore Orioles who are also a contender.
What made it worse, they would have to play a double-header against the Orioles.
The Orioles jump out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning in game one when Adam Jones hit a two run homer.
Ryan Flaherty made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning with a home run of his own.
The Orioles added one more run in the sixth inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Toronto got their first and only run at the top of the eighth inning when Rajai Davis drove in Edwin Encarnacion with a double.
This was Toronto’s seventh straight loss.
Starting pitcher, Henderson Alvarez went 5.2 innings, giving up eight hits, four earned runs, three walks and struck out six batters.
In the second game of the double-header, the Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a home run by Edwin Encarnacion in the first innning.
Down 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning, the Orioles cut the Jay’s lead in half by scoring two runs.
The Orioles scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 4-3 game. At this point, I thought the Jay’s were going to blow it.
However, at the top of the sixth inning, Moises Sierria hit a solo home run to give his team back their two run lead.
With bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, Jays manager, John Farrell pulled Ricky Romero from the game.
Romero gave up eight hits, four earned runs, four walks and struck out three batters in five innings pitched
Still up 5-3, I thought this is it. The bullpen will blow it again and Romero will be credited with the loss. When Baltimore made it 5-4, I thought for sure Romero will get the loss, but something unthinkable happened.
With only one out, bases full, Chris Davis hits a fly ball to Anthony Gose. Gose then throws a rocket to home plate where J.P. Arencibia tags Taylor Teagarden out to keep the game at 5-4 Jays. I was so pleased when I saw the play because it meant that Romero would not lose the game. However, I wanted him to get the win.
J.P. Arencibia
In the top of the seventh inning, Arencibia practically secured the win when he hit a grand slam to give the Jays a five run lead.
Arencibia had a great night at the plate, going five for five, and racking up five RBIs.
The Orioles scored one more run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it was the Blue Jays that got the 9-5 win. It was Romero’s first win since the end of June.
The Jays shut out the Orioles in the third game 4-0.
Starting pitcher, Aaron Laffey had an awesome night on the mound. In 5.2 innings pitched, he gave up five hits, no earned runs, no walks, and struck out no batters.
They Jays lost the fourth and final game 12-2. Am I upset? No. I knew the Orioles would be up for this one. They had to win tonight in order to stay in the playoff race. The Jays had nothing to lose. The fact they won two games in the series is amazing, considering how they’ve been playing lately.
It’s hard to believe, but the season is almost over for the Blue Jays. They only have two series remaining on their schedule and both of them are at home.
The next opponent will be the New York Yankees. It will be a four game series, starting tomorrow night.
About Ellen Piehl