Bautista ties Jays HR record
47th homer this season equals George Bell's franchise record
The Toronto Blue Jays now have two single-season home run leaders.
Jose Bautista hit his 47th home run of the year in Baltimore on Wednesday off Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen. In the process, he tied George Bell for the Blue Jays franchise record of homers hit in one season.
The solo shot was hit over the centre-field wall in the top of the first inning and gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
"It was nice to do it for the fans, but ultimately the reason you play the game is to win and we didn't do that," Bautista said after the Jays' 3-1 loss. "It's been a very fun year on a personal level."
Bautista still has 16 games to overtake fellow Dominican Bell, who smacked 47 in 1987 on his way to winning the American League MVP award that season.
"[Bell]'s a guy I got to know over the years. He was a great baseball player and had a great career for the Toronto Blue Jays," Bautista said. "Hopefully, I'll have as good a career."
with files from the Associated Press