BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles enjoyed a departure from the norm, winning a game by combining a potent hitting attack with solid starting pitching.
Pedro Severino and Cedric Mullins homered off Steven Matz, Anthony Santander also went deep and the Orioles powered past the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 Tuesday night.
Toronto hit three home runs, too, including No. 28 by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but all those long balls came after Baltimore had taken a 7-1 lead.
The Orioles own the worst record in the American League in part because their starting rotation has been riddled by ineffectiveness and injuries. On this night, however, a right-hander making his first start in the majors turned in a performance he will forever cherish.
Spenser Watkins (1-0) allowed one run and three hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out two in becoming the first Baltimore starter to win a game since June 8.
“His first ever major league start, and I thought he threw with no fear,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We haven’t gotten five innings often, so to see him go five innings was fantastic.”
The 28-year-old Watkins said his one-inning relief appearance against the Angels on Friday night helped prepare him for this outing, but didn’t do much to relieve the jitters.
“There were absolutely some nerves going on. The excitement of that first start, the adrenaline was definitely there,” he said.
After Severino put Baltimore in front with a two-run drive in the fourth inning, Mullins’ team-high 16th homer with a man on launched a five-run fifth and chased Matz (7-4).
“He’s their best hitter. You hang a slider to good hitter and they’re going to make you pay,” Matz lamented
Santander capped the outburst with a two-run blast off Trent Thornton that landed on Eutaw Street, far beyond the right-field wall at Camden Yards.
The night did not start well for Watkins, who walked leadoff hitter Marcus Semien and yielded a single to Bo Bichette before Guerrero lined a run-scoring fly to left.
Matz was in control until Severino connected in the fourth, and Mullins — Baltimore’s lone All-Star representative — made it 4-1 with a drive to center that ended Matz’s second start since returning from a trip to the injured list with COVID-19.
“He’s getting there,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said.
Guerrero hit solo shot in the eighth after Randal Grichuck went deep in the seventh, and Lourdes Guriel Jr. capped the scoring with a two-run drive in the ninth.
BULLPEN HELP
The Blue Jays fortified their relief corps Tuesday by obtaining RH Trevor Richards and minor league righty Bowden Francis from Milwaukee for 1B Rowdy Tellez.
“We’re looking to improve our bullpen, so that’s a good move,” Montoyo said. “I’m going to miss Rowdy, but Trevor Richards is going to help us out.”
Toronto’s bullpen has 10 blown saves this season and an ERA over 4.50 since the beginning of May. The 28-year-old Richards started the year with Tampa Bay before being traded to Milwaukee, where he went 3-0 with a 3.20 ERA in 15 appearances.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Eleven players (including Watkins) have made their major league debut with the Orioles this season, more than any other team. “When I replay the game and see the family in the stands, that’s when it hits me a little bit more — what it means to all the people that help get them here,” Hyde said. “It’s a very special moment for them.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: C Alejandro Kirk is “100 percent” recovered from a hip flexor strain that put him on the DL in May, according to Montoyo, who said the 22-year-old native of Mexico is honing his game in the minors as a precursor to his return to the Jays.
Orioles: LHP John Means, who’s been sidelined since June 5 with a shoulder strain, threw two innings for Single-A Aberdeen in a rehab stint on Sunday. The 2019 All-Star, who tossed a no-hitter against Seattle on May 5, will pitch again Friday for Double-A Bowie. “He’s on track to join us after the (All-Star) break,” Hyde said. … RHP Travis Lakins underwent elbow surgery Tuesday and should be good to go at spring training, Hyde said.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (7-5, 3.65 ERA) starts Wednesday night, looking to improve to 3-0 this season against Baltimore. The Orioles will go with Matt Harvey (3-9, 7.34), who’s 0-8 in 11 starts since May 1.
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