Playoff-hungry Orioles turn triple play, rally in 9th inning to beat Blue Jays

Closest Canadian Jordan Romano has become almost automatic to complete the Toronto Blue Jays wins this season.

The last time Romano (5-4) made a save that ended in a loss in Toronto was nearly three months ago on June 21. home in a season of 22, set by Kelvim Escobar in 2002.

“He’s arguably the best in the league, and he just didn’t have that today,” Toronto interim manager John Schneider said. “He’s been so good, all year. I think his slider was a bit flat. I think they were sitting on it. You gotta give them credit for taking a few hits and working a few steps.”

The Blue Jays (83-64) entered the ninth inning with a 3-2 advantage. But back-to-back singles, plus a walk, loaded the bases.

Rookie Adley Rutschman then singled left to score a pair of runs. Finally, a Jesse Aguilar single scored a crucial third run as George Springer doubled home Cavan Biggio in the bottom of the inning to bring Toronto within a run.

Bo Bichette left Springer stuck with a game-ending groundout.

“I just think they had a plan against him,” Toronto wide receiver Danny Jansen said. “He went out there and he competed. Stuff like that happens.”

Jansen tied a career-high 13th home run with two outs in the fourth inning to put the Blue Jays ahead 2-1.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. provided a two-run cushion with a towering left blast for his 29th homer in the seventh.

He had extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a double to center in the fifth.

Manoah finishes strong

The two homers, combined with a strong performance from starter Alek Manoah, brought the home side to the brink of the sweep.

Instead, the Blue Jays’ formidable record in September fell to 13-5. They’ll enter the final 15 games of the regular season 5 1/2 behind the American League East leaders New York Yankees with a three-game tie against the Yankees in Toronto Sept. 26-28.

In his 98-pitch performance, in front of 41,311 fans at Rogers Center, Manoah went six innings with four walks and five strikeouts, giving up a run on four hits.

He struggled early but finished strong.

“I was able to minimize the damage,” Manoah said.

The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Orioles starter Dean Kremer hit Springer on the left elbow, the opposite elbow that kept him out earlier this summer. He went second when Guerrero walked and scored on Bichette’s single at center.

The Blue Jays had Bichette at first and Guerrero at second with no outs. The Orioles, however, hit a triple play when shortstop Jorge Mateo caught Matt Chapman’s line drive and had enough time to catch Guerrero and Bichette.

Kremer went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Orioles reliever Joey Krehbiel (5-4) recorded the win.

Injury Update

With the day off Monday, the Blue Jays kept wide receiver Alejandro Kirk (hip) out for a fifth straight game. Additionally, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was eligible to come off the 10-game disabled list, but also received an extra day off.

Next

The Blue Jays hit the road for a two-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies starting Tuesday, followed by a four-game series in Tampa against the Rays. Ross Stripling (8-4) will face Phillies right-hander Kyle Gibson (10-6) in Game 1.