TORONTO — Lots has modified concerning the Orioles since they final performed in Canada, however Ryan Mountcastle made positive to indicate he’s nonetheless very a lot the identical.
A traditionally good hitter in opposition to the Blue Jays, Mountcastle was one among Baltimore’s a number of heroes in a 6-2 win over Toronto on Friday evening at Rogers Centre. His tenth homer of the season — a three-run blast off Yusei Kikuchi within the third inning — gave his group a decisive early lead and upped his profession OPS in opposition to Toronto to 1.030 in 43 video games.
What is it concerning the Blue Jays that appears to carry out the perfect in him?
“I don’t know,” Mountcastle stated with a shrug and a smile. “It’s a good place to hit. I like it here.”
That third-inning homer was the fourth in his 11 profession at-bats in opposition to the left-handed Kikuchi, and it paved the best way for the kind of massive offensive evening that had eluded starter Kyle Gibson all via May.
The right-hander had seen his group get shut out in all three of his previous begins this month. As he delivered seven innings of one-run ball with 5 strikeouts on 5 hits and two walks on Friday, although, the bats lastly got here via.
Anthony Santander adopted Mountcastle with a solo dwelling run within the sixth for his eighth of the yr. Then, Adam Frazier squashed any probability of a Blue Jays comeback with a two-run homer within the ninth to make it 6-2.
“With these guys, it’s only a matter of time, right?” Gibson stated after the win. “… Those are the games right there when you have a full team win. You look back and you see that every side of the baseball [was working]. We were good at all facets of the game.”
Gibson gave up some arduous contact within the first two innings, together with a Danny Jansen RBI single that gave Toronto a 1-0 lead within the second, however he locked in after that. He relied totally on his sinker and cutter to generate some awkward swings and let the protection work behind him.
His seven innings of labor have been notably essential after a collection in opposition to the Angels that required quite a lot of bullpen arms to step up. It was simply what the Orioles wanted from their No. 1 starter.
“Gibson definitely pitched like an ace tonight, there’s no doubt,” stated supervisor Brandon Hyde. “We’re in a hitter’s ballpark against a powerhouse offensive team — guys we know very well that are really dangerous. And for Kyle to go seven innings against them in their home ballpark is next level.”
Toronto’s second run got here within the eighth — a Bo Bichette RBI groundout that handed reliever Yennier Cano his first earned run of the season after 21 2/3 scoreless innings and 70 batters confronted. But there was no panic. Instead, Cano struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and acquired Daulton Varsho to floor out to finish the inning and cease a possible rally.
Frazier’s added insurance coverage within the following body closed the ebook on the collection opener, which served exactly because the tone-setter the Orioles have been on the lookout for.
Now 13-2 in collection openers this season, the membership is firmly positioned in second place and forward of AL East powerhouses such because the Blue Jays and the Yankees — Baltimore’s subsequent cease after the weekend collection north of the border.
“Any AL East series is going to be big,” stated Mountcastle. “And for us, to come in here and get a first-game ‘W’ is huge.”
This first assembly with the Blue Jays was a reminder of how issues have modified because the final time the division rivals confronted one another.
A younger Orioles group that scratched and clawed for the final AL Wild Card spot however fell quick final yr is now creating a successful tradition of its personal. There are nonetheless some inconsistencies and it’s a protracted approach to October, however this membership understands its new standing within the league.
“It’s a lot more fun [to be ahead in the standings],” Hyde stated earlier than the opener in Toronto. “But it’s still really early and there’s still so much baseball to play. I’m just looking at one game and one series at a time.”
That’s in all probability a sensible mentality when the schedule forward reveals two extra video games in opposition to the Blue Jays adopted by three video games within the Bronx in opposition to the Yankees.
“You’re on the road, facing a division opponent,” stated Gibson, “Any time you can go in and get that first win … is good.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com