Alonso Reaches 40 Homers as Orioles Rally Past Blue Jays, 4-3

BALTIMORE — Pete Alonso delivered one of his biggest performances since joining the Baltimore Orioles, blasting two home runs and reaching 40 for the season as Baltimore rallied from an early three-run deficit to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, Monday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Alonso’s second home run was the difference. With Baltimore trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Alonso launched a two-run homer off Toronto reliever Tyler Rogers to give the Orioles their first lead of the night. Baltimore’s bullpen protected it from there as Rico Garcia worked a perfect ninth for his 10th save, helping the Orioles improve to 76-81 and snap a three-game losing streak.

The victory kept Baltimore’s slim American League wild-card hopes alive with five games remaining. The Orioles entered Tuesday 4½ games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final wild-card position, while Toronto fell to 77-80 and remained 3½ games behind Chicago.

Toronto Jumps on Baz

The game did not begin well for Baltimore.

After a 47-minute rain delay, Toronto’s first four hitters reached against Orioles starter Shane Baz. The inning became even more frustrating when Baz was called for a pitch-clock violation with a full count on Brett Bateman and then walked Alejandro Kirk following a checked-swing call that Baltimore believed could have ended the plate appearance differently.

Nathan Lukes followed with an RBI single that scored Bateman and gave Toronto a 1-0 lead. George Springer immediately followed with another RBI single, bringing Kirk home and making it 2-0 before Baltimore recorded an out. Sean Keys then lifted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Lukes, and the Blue Jays suddenly had a 3-0 advantage.

Considering how the inning started, Baz did well to prevent the damage from becoming considerably worse. The three first-inning runs would ultimately be the only runs Toronto scored all night.

That became one of the defining aspects of Baltimore’s victory.

Alonso Starts the Comeback

Baltimore immediately got one run back against Toronto starter Trey Yesavage.

Alonso stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the first and launched a solo home run, trimming Toronto’s advantage to 3-1. It was Alonso’s 39th homer of the season and provided Baltimore with an immediate response after Toronto’s three-run opening inning.

Yesavage was making his return from the injured list after missing time since early August because of knee inflammation. Toronto limited him to two innings, and Alonso’s home run was the only run he surrendered.

Baltimore had other opportunities to cut into Toronto’s lead but struggled to capitalize. The Orioles put a runner at third with one out in the fourth inning but came away empty, keeping the Blue Jays ahead 3-1.

Fortunately for Baltimore, Baz had settled into the game.

Baz Settles Down

The difference between Baz’s first inning and the rest of his outing was dramatic. Toronto appeared capable of producing a big offensive night after scoring three times before Baltimore’s offense even came to the plate, but Baz refused to allow another run.

He ultimately worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs while walking three and striking out two over 92 pitches. Toronto managed only five hits against him despite producing several immediately in the first inning.

Baz’s ability to recover gave Baltimore time to work its way back into the game. Instead of asking the Orioles offense to erase a deficit that continued growing, he held Toronto at three runs through the remainder of his outing.

The Blue Jays had an opportunity to add to their lead in the third when they put a runner at third with one out, but Baz escaped without allowing a run. He continued putting zeroes on the scoreboard through the sixth and retired two hitters in the seventh before Baltimore turned the game over to its bullpen.

It was not a dominant outing in the traditional sense. Baz had only two strikeouts and struggled badly at the beginning. However, recovering from a three-run first inning and pitching into the seventh gave Baltimore exactly what it needed.

Henderson Makes it a One-Run Game

Gunnar Henderson brought Camden Yards back to life in the sixth.

With two outs and nobody on, Henderson drove a cutter from Chad Dallas to right field for his 24th home run of the season. The ball left his bat at 106.9 mph and traveled 371 feet, cutting Toronto’s lead to 3-2.

Henderson put together an outstanding overall night at the plate. He also doubled and tripled, finishing one hit shy of the cycle.

His home run completely changed the situation facing Baltimore. The Orioles had trailed by three runs almost immediately after the game began, but Alonso’s first homer and Henderson’s sixth-inning shot reduced the deficit to one.

The Orioles still needed one more significant offensive moment.

Alonso provided it.

Alonso Delivers in the Eighth

Toronto carried its 3-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth and initially appeared capable of protecting it.

Mason Fluharty began the inning for the Blue Jays. Baltimore eventually put a runner aboard, and with two outs Toronto manager John Schneider turned to Rogers specifically to face Alonso.

It was a matchup Toronto believed favored the Blue Jays.

Instead, Alonso changed the game.

Alonso drove Rogers’ offering out for his second home run of the night, scoring two runs and transforming Baltimore’s 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead. The homer was Alonso’s 40th of the season and made him only the second right-handed hitter to homer against Rogers over the previous two seasons.

It was Alonso’s fourth career season with at least 40 home runs. His first season in Baltimore has now also produced the 10th 40-homer season by an Orioles player since the franchise arrived in Baltimore in 1954.

Alonso finished 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored. Baltimore managed only six hits as a team, meaning Alonso’s two swings accounted for half of the Orioles’ runs and one-third of their hits.

More importantly, they changed the outcome of the game.

Cano and Garcia Finish It

Baltimore’s bullpen made sure Alonso’s home run stood.

Yennier Cano replaced Baz with two outs in the seventh and worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Because Baltimore took the lead while Cano was the pitcher of record, he earned the victory and improved to 4-3.

Garcia took over in the ninth with Baltimore suddenly protecting a one-run advantage. There was no drama.

Garcia retired Toronto in order, finishing the game by getting Josh Smith to fly out. His final pitch was a 96 mph four-seam fastball, and the perfect inning secured his 10th save.

Toronto never scored after the first inning.

That may be the most impressive aspect of Baltimore’s pitching performance. The Blue Jays scored three runs before the Orioles recorded three outs, yet Baltimore’s pitchers responded by putting eight consecutive zeroes on the scoreboard.

Alonso Reaches Another Major Milestone

Forty home runs represent another major offensive milestone for Alonso, but reaching the mark during his first season with Baltimore makes the accomplishment particularly notable.

The Orioles signed Alonso to add an established middle-of-the-order power hitter, and that power has translated immediately to Camden Yards. Monday’s performance gave him his 39th and 40th homers while increasing his total to three RBIs on the night.

The first homer prevented Toronto from maintaining the momentum generated by its three-run first. The second completed Baltimore’s comeback.

There was also something fitting about Alonso reaching 40 in this particular game. Baltimore had generated very little sustained offense. The Orioles finished with six hits, exactly the same number as Toronto, and neither club committed an error. This was not a game in which Baltimore overwhelmed the Blue Jays with constant baserunners.

The Orioles needed power.

Alonso supplied it twice.

Henderson Continues Producing

Alonso will receive most of the attention, but Henderson’s performance was another major reason Baltimore had an opportunity to win.

His sixth-inning home run brought the Orioles within one, but Henderson also doubled and tripled. Finishing a double shy of the cycle is common baseball terminology, but Henderson actually accomplished the harder parts — collecting the double, triple and home run — while missing only the single.

His 24th home run continued another productive season from the Orioles infielder. More importantly on Monday, the timing was crucial. Baltimore had gone four consecutive innings without scoring after Alonso’s first-inning homer, and Henderson’s shot finally broke through against the Toronto bullpen.

Without Henderson’s sixth-inning home run, Alonso’s eighth-inning blast merely would have tied the game.

Instead, it became the game-winner.

Blue Jays Let Early Advantage Disappear

Toronto will look back at this game as a significant missed opportunity.

The Blue Jays scored three times in the first inning and had Baz struggling immediately. Their first four batters reached base, and Baltimore appeared vulnerable before the game had settled into any kind of rhythm.

Toronto never capitalized again.

The Blue Jays finished with six hits and failed to score over their final eight innings. Lukes and Springer produced RBI singles in the first and Keys added the sacrifice fly, but Baltimore’s pitching staff shut Toronto down afterward.

Rogers was charged with the loss and his fourth blown save after allowing Alonso’s go-ahead homer. He fell to 2-3.

The defeat was especially costly because Toronto remains involved in the fading American League wild-card race. Instead of taking advantage of its early lead and gaining ground, the Blue Jays left Baltimore 3½ games behind the final postseason position with only five games remaining.

Bateman Leaves With Injury

Toronto also suffered an injury during the game.

Bateman left after making a sliding catch in center field during the second inning. He sustained a hip injury on the play, although postgame X-rays were negative.

Bateman had played a role in Toronto’s productive first inning after reaching base during the unusual sequence involving Baz’s pitch-clock violation. His departure created another concern for a Blue Jays team trying to remain alive during the final week of the regular season.

Orioles Keep Their Slim Hopes Alive

Baltimore’s postseason situation remains extremely difficult, but Monday’s victory at least prevented elimination and gave the Orioles something to play for entering the final five games.

The Orioles improved to 76-81 and moved within 4½ games of the idle Chicago White Sox for the final American League wild-card spot. Toronto fell to 77-80 and sits 3½ games behind Chicago.

Baltimore needs considerable help elsewhere and essentially cannot afford another loss. That makes the way Monday’s game unfolded even more meaningful.

The Orioles could easily have folded after Toronto’s three-run first inning. Instead, Baz settled down, Alonso immediately got one run back, Henderson reduced the deficit to one and the bullpen kept Toronto from adding insurance.

Then Alonso changed everything with one swing.

The victory also snapped Baltimore’s three-game losing streak.

By the Numbers

Baltimore and Toronto each finished with six hits and neither team committed an error. The difference was Baltimore’s ability to turn three of those hits into home runs. Alonso hit two and Henderson supplied the other, meaning every Orioles run came via the long ball.

Alonso finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Baz went 6 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs, while Cano earned the win and Garcia recorded the save. Rogers took the loss after surrendering the decisive eighth-inning homer.

The game took two hours and 30 minutes following the 47-minute rain delay. An announced crowd of 12,067 watched Baltimore take the opener of the three-game series at Camden Yards.

What’s Next

The Orioles and Blue Jays continue their three-game series Tuesday night at Camden Yards. Baltimore is scheduled to start veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, who enters at 8-5 with a 4.64 ERA, while Toronto counters with Max Scherzer, who is 3-8 with a 6.07 ERA.

Both clubs enter the game with almost no margin for error. Toronto remains one game ahead of Baltimore in the standings, but both teams need victories and significant help from elsewhere to keep their postseason hopes alive.

For Baltimore, Monday provided exactly what was required — another day with something still at stake.

MSB Take

Pete Alonso was brought to Baltimore to change games with his power, and Monday night provided a perfect example of what that means. The Orioles generated only six hits, fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and never put together a huge rally. They did not need one because Alonso produced two enormous swings, with his second turning a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead.

Shane Baz deserves significant credit as well. His first inning could have turned the game into a blowout before Baltimore had an opportunity to respond. Instead, he settled down and did not allow another run, ultimately pitching into the seventh. Cano and Garcia completed the job by keeping Toronto scoreless the rest of the way.

Henderson’s performance should not become a footnote because of Alonso’s milestone. His sixth-inning home run made the eighth-inning comeback possible, and his double and triple gave Baltimore another strong performance from one of its cornerstone players.

The Orioles remain in an extremely difficult postseason position, but Monday night was exactly the kind of game a team must win when there is no room left for mistakes. Baltimore fell behind by three, held Toronto scoreless for eight straight innings and received three home runs from its two biggest offensive threats.

Alonso’s 40th was the biggest of them all.

Baltimore 4, Toronto 3 — and for at least another day, the Orioles’ season still carries postseason implications.