Nice start for Stripling and good work from the pen, Jays beat Orioles

Orioles 2 Blue Jays 5

Not exactly the laugher we had yesterday, but a win, so I won’t complain.

The Jays had 12 hits and 4 walks, so you could say they should have scored more, but five was enough today.

We scored:

• One in the first: Teoscar Hernandez singles, and we had back-to-back walks from George Springer and Cavan Biggio to load the bases with no outs. But our run came on a Randal Grichuk double-play ball. With Panik popping out after, we only got one run of the bases loaded moment.
• Two in the second: Reese McGuire led off with a walk, and Marcus Semien singled him to second. An out later, Vladimir Guerrero doubled both home. Vlad almost scored on a two-out single by Cavan Biggio. Ruled safe on the field but overturned on review, he went on a short single to left. Two outs, I’m ok with him going. I kind of thought that Rivera didn’t really wave him home at first, but when Vlad came around third base and looked like he was going home no matter what, Luis waved him in. To me, the replay was inconclusive, but such is life.
• Two in the fifth: With one out, Vlad singled, and Teoscar doubled. An out later, Biggio doubled them both home.

Five Jays had two hits each: Semien, Vlad, Teoscar, Biggio, and McGuire. The last two also had a walk.

Joe Panik was the only Jay not to reach base, and he had an error at third base, but Ross Stripling didn’t swear at him this time.

Stripling had another good start. He gave up a home run in the first inning. And another run in the fifth. He had troubles in the sixth, giving up back-to-back singles to start the inning, and came out of the game.

Patrick Murphy got out of the inning with a strikeout and a double play. However, Murphy had troubles in the seventh. He gave up a walk, single and walk, to load the bases with two outs.

Charlie went to Tim Mayze, who went to a full-count before getting a soft ground ball right back to him. Tim almost ran the ball all the way to first.

Anthony Castro struck out the side in the eighth. He was really impressive.

And, of course, Jordan Romano pitched a quick ninth for his sixth save.

I loved the Pina Power Hawaiian shirt. I want one.

Plate umpire Bruce Dreckman had, maybe, the worst time with the strike zone that we have seen this year. There was a pitch well inside the zone to Biggio that was called ball four. Stripling had two pitches off the outside corner called strikes and then threw one right on the corner called ball four in one at-bat. I’m going to be curious to see the Umpire Scorecard tweet tomorrow and see how he scores.

Jays of the Day: Biggio (.204, 2 for 4, walk, 2 RBI), Vlad (.129, 2 for 4, 2 RBI), and Pat Murphy (.154) had the number as well for getting out of that jam in the sixth. I’d give honorable mentions to Mayza, Castro, and Stripling. And Teoscar, too, as well as the two hits he made a nice play on a ball hit off the left-field wall.

Suckage: Panik (-.100, for his 0 for 3. Plus the error). Rough day for the guy. But no one yelled at him.

We have an off-day tomorrow. And then the Mariners come to Buffalo for three games.

We had 408 comments in the game thread. I led us to victory (I’m sure most of my comments were ‘it is so hot.’ I don’t do well in 30-degree heat).