Alonso’s two homers lift Orioles past Blue Jays 4-3 as Toronto’s playoff hopes fade

Illustration by Provectus Media

BALTIMORE — The Toronto Blue Jays scored three runs before most fans had found their seats. They never scored again.

Pete Alonso homered twice, including a two-run shot in the eighth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles rallied for a 4-3 win Monday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The loss drops Toronto three and a half games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final American League wild-card spot with five games to play.

The Jays jumped Shane Baz in the first. Nathan Lukes singled home Brett Bateman, George Springer singled home Alejandro Kirk and Sean Keys lifted a sacrifice fly to stake Toronto to a 3-0 lead.

Alonso answered in the bottom half, launching his 39th home run off Trey Yesavage to snap Baltimore's 19-inning scoreless streak.

Yesavage was making his first start since knee surgery and worked on a short leash, exiting after two innings and 40 pitches. The Toronto bullpen held the lead until the sixth, when Gunnar Henderson — who also tripled earlier — took Chad Dallas deep to cut it to 3-2.

The eighth decided it. Mason Fluharty walked pinch-hitter Christian Franklin to open the inning, and Tyler Rogers entered specifically to face Alonso. Alonso lined a sinker over the left-field wall for his 40th homer of the season, putting Baltimore ahead for good.

Alonso is the fourth player to hit 40 home runs in his first season with the Orioles, joining Frank Robinson (49), Mark Trumbo (47) and Nelson Cruz (40). He has now homered in six consecutive series.

Yennier Cano earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Rico Garcia worked a clean ninth for the save. Rogers took the loss.

Toronto managed six hits and none went for extra bases. Springer had two of them and drove in a run. Baz, meanwhile, deserved better: he allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings, and his 15 losses remain tied for the most in the majors.

The math is getting cruel for the Jays. At 77-80, they sit 3.5 games back of the White Sox (80-76), who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker — meaning Toronto effectively needs to gain four games over the final five. Baltimore (76-81) is 4.5 back with five to play, its elimination number down to two.

The three-game series continues Tuesday night in Baltimore.