Field Level Media
Jun 18, 2021
Cedric Mullins capped a five-run eighth inning with his second home run of the night and the Baltimore Orioles snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 7-1 win over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
Mullins went 3-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the Orioles, who opened the three-game series by handing the Blue Jays their fifth straight loss.
Baltimore right-hander Thomas Eshelman allowed one run on three hits over 4 2/3 innings in his season debut. Tyler Wells (2-0) earned the victory, striking out two over 1 1/3 innings in relief.
The Orioles led 2-1 before tacking on five runs in the eighth against Toronto's beleaguered bullpen.
Ryan Mountcastle delivered a leadoff single and scored on Freddy Galvis' one-out double to deep right field. Maikel Franco followed with a single off Patrick Murphy, scoring Galvis from second.
After Franco moved to second on Pedro Severino's single, Jeremy Beasley retired Pat Valaika before Mullins delivered a 398-foot blast to right field.
Mullins, who recorded his third multi-homer game this season, began the scoring by greeting Robbie Ray (4-3) with a 428-foot blast to begin the bottom of the first.
Ray pitched a season-low 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits while throwing 106 pitches. He struck out five and walked two.
The Blue Jays pulled even in the fifth when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a one-out homer off Eshelman.
Baltimore moved ahead with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Ray began the inning by allowing consecutive singles before Austin Hays' one-out single scored Valaika from third.
Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at seven games. The Blue Jays were held to four hits and fell two games under. 500.
Hays, Galvis and Valaika had two hits apiece for the Orioles, who had lost their previous six home games against Toronto.
Mullins, who was hit by a pitch for the third straight game, is batting .400 (20-for-50) in 14 games this month.
--Field Level Media