MLB

Blue Jays bats dry up as Orioles send Toronto spiralling to 8th loss in last 10 games

After eighth defeats in their last 10 outings, the Toronto Blue Jays remain faithful that a turnaround will soon present itself. The struggling Blues Jays (61-54) dropped their third in a row, a 4-2 decision to the thriving Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Baltimore half-game behind Toronto for final wild-card playoff berth

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman (35) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (6) during a 4-2 win in Toronto on Tuesday. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press)

After eighth defeats in their last 10 outings, the Toronto Blue Jays remain faithful that a turnaround will soon present itself.

The struggling Blues Jays (61-54) dropped their third in a row, a 4-2 decision to the thriving Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. The Orioles (61-55) have won 10 of 14 games in August to climb within a half-game of Toronto for the third and final American League wild-card spot.

"You just have to trust yourself," said Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who drilled a two-run line drive blast in the first inning for his team-leading 25th homer.

"I've been telling the guys to keep trusting themselves and keep working hard. It will turn around somehow."

Toronto starter Alek Manoah (12-6) had his no-hitter bid broken up by a two-out single to right field by Rougned Odor in the fourth inning.

The Orioles then got to the Blue Jays ace on the third time through their lineup. After two long fly ball outs to begin the fifth inning, Cedric Mullins and rookie Adley Rutschman belted homers to centre field and right centre field to tie the game.

Manoah's 107-pitch effort concluded an inning later. He issued a one-out walk to Terrin Vavra, who advanced to second on Odor's groundout. Ramon Urias then knocked in Vavra.

Manoah then walked the next batter for his final pitches. Urias scored on Ryan McKenna's single to right off reliever Anthony Bass.

Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez had a chance to throw out Urias at the plate, but catcher Alejandro Kirk failed to grab the one-hopper.

Toronto's Matt Chapman had the bases loaded in the third but hit into an inning-ending double play.

'We're struggling a bit right now, but we'll get it rolling again'

"The key is we are not getting it done with runners in scoring position," said Guerrero when asked the difference between their recent struggles and their seven-game win streak before the all-star break a few weeks ago.

But other than an infield hit by Santiago Espinal in the fourth and his bunt single in the seventh, the Blue Jays did not have any other runners in the final six innings.

"We're still in a playoff spot, and we know we're a playoff team," Manoah said. "We're struggling a bit right now, but we'll get it rolling again."

The Blue Jays have slipped to 15-12 since interim manager John Schneider replaced Charlie Montoyo last month.

"This is a close group, and it's a really talented group," Schneider said. "We have no doubt that we're going to be playing better baseball very soon, and between the guys we have and the guys who are established veterans in the clubhouse, I know that they're gonna pick it up.

Orioles starter Dean Kremer (5-4) pitched a strong seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out six with one walk.

Manoah went 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs, four hits, four walks and seven strikeouts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim has covered the hockey landscape and other sports in Canada for three decades for The Canadian Press, CBC Sports, the Globe and Mail and Toronto Sun. He has been to three Winter Olympics, 11 Stanley Cups, a world championship as well as 17 world junior championships, 13 Memorial Cups and 13 University Cups. The native of Waterloo, Ont., always has his eye out for an underdog story.

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