Five innings give Blue Jays victory over Orioles

Alejandro Kirk drove in five runs and a three-run homer in the sixth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Tuesday.

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a solo homer in the sixth inning of the three-game series opener. He also walked and was hit by a pitch.

Jackson Holliday hit a solo home run for the Orioles, who improved to 2-3 on a 10-game road trip. The Blue Jays won for the second time in six games.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassett (9-10) struck out nine and allowed two runs, three hits and two walk-offs in seven-plus innings.

Baltimore right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (posterior shoulder discomfort) was injured after a shortened warmup. He was replaced by right-hander Albert Suarez, who struck out six, allowed two hits and walked two in five scoreless innings.

The Orioles’ first hit led to the first run of the game, Holliday’s home run to right-center on a 1-1 chip in the sixth inning. It was Holliday’s third career home run since he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk last week.

Burch Smith replaced Suarez in the sixth inning and allowed Guerrero’s two-out single to right. Smith was replaced by Gregory Soto (2-5), who allowed a single to right base by Spencer Horwitz. Kirk then hit his third home run of the season, a hit to left. Daulton Varsho doubled and Ernie Clement was intentionally walked. Two steals later, Addison Barger hit a two-run double to left.

Valshew connected on Gunnar Henderson’s second shot of the seventh to the center field wall.

Baltimore loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, with a walk by Rutschman and singles by Mountcastle and Eloy Jimenez. Genesis Cabrera relieved Bassitt and walked pinch-hitter Austin Slater to score. Cabrera ended the inning with two strikeouts and a ground ball.

Chad Green went 1-2-3 in the ninth to earn his ninth save.

–Scene-level media