Jays hit 4 homers, beat Orioles

Orioles 2 Blue Jays 8

Playing the Orioles is fun.

The story of the game was home runs. We hit 4 homers. Aledmys Diaz hit one out in the 2nd inning. Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales went back-to-back in the 5th. An out later Billy McKinney hit his first MLB homer.

And we scored without homers:

• In the first: Curtis Granderson doubled to start off the game. Devon Travis reached on an error to second baseman Jonathan Villar. And Morales singled to bring home Granderson. The O’s didn’t shift against Morales, this at bat, and it cost them.
• In the 4th: Morales singled and Kevin Pillar hit a ground rule double. McKinney singled them both home. After a Richard Urena single, Luke Maile reached on a Renato Nunez error, scoring McKinney.

We had 12 hits on the day. Morales had 3. Granderson and McKinney had 2 each. Everyone else in the starting lineup had 1 except for Devon Travis, who was robbed by SS Tim Beckham, or he would have had an extra base hit.

McKinney looked really good at the plate, as well as the 2 hits, he had a great at bat that ended in a walk. If I was Teoscar, I’d start worrying. And Urena had a hit and a walk, looking good with the bat.

Diaz played third base, and was excellent on defense. He is much better than Martin there.

Sam Gaviglio had a great night, going 7 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 earned, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, giving up 1 home run, Cedric Mullins taking him just barely over the right field wall. I know it is the Orioles, but he was impressive,

Jake Petricka and Justin Shafer pitched a scoreless inning of relief each. I’m liking Shafer. Petricka throws so hard, I hope we send him out there a bunch over the last few weeks. I think he might figure things out if he gets to pitch a bunch.

Jays of the Day: Gaviglio (.136 WPA), Morales (.147), Diaz (.087, plus excellent defense) and I’m giving one to McKinney for his 2 for 3, including his first home run, plus a walk night. He got the silent treatment after his homer.

No Suckage Award. Smoak, even with a home run, had the low mark at -.064.

Remember tomorrow is an early game. 12:30 Eastern.

We had 335 comments in a very pleasant GameThread. Wins make us happy. BlueJayEMT led us to victory. Great job sir.