Orioles power past Matz, Toronto for 7-5 victory in slugfest

BALTIMORE (AP) — Pedro Severino and Cedric Mullins homered off Steven Matz, Anthony Santander also went deep and the Baltimore 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.

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).

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.

Making his first major league start and second appearance, Orioles right-hander Spencer 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.

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.

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,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “I’m going to miss Rowdy, but Trevor...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Orioles-power-past-Matz-Toronto-for-7-5-victory-16297257.php