HEADLINE

Orioles hope to solve bullpen woes against Blue Jays

Field Level Media

September 19, 2019 at 7:28 am.

The Toronto Blue Jays have stunned the host Baltimore Orioles with late rallies in the first two games of this series. Now, the Blue Jays will try and complete a three-game sweep when they play Thursday night.

Toronto trailed 7-1 at one point Wednesday and was down 9-5 after eight before a Randal Grichuk grand slam sparked a six-run ninth inning. Teoscar Hernandez belted a three-run homer that helped the Blue Jays rally from that early six-run deficit as the Baltimore bullpen gave up 10 runs.

The Blue Jays then had to hold on for an 11-10 victory, but they had done something similar in Tuesday’s win in the opener to the three-game series.

In that game, the Orioles held a 4-3 lead before Toronto tied it with a run in the eighth. The Jays then added four in the ninth en route to an 8-5 victory.

The victory on Wednesday gave the Jays a three-game winning streak.

On the injury front, Toronto relief pitcher Tim Mayza recently had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. The operation, according to MLB.com, also found a Grade 3 tear of his flexor tendon, and all of this likely keeps him out until spring training of 2021.

“It’s unfortunate,” Mayza told MLB.com on Sunday, “But it’s fortunate to have guys who have gone through the surgery in the clubhouse. Talking to them, I understand that the process in the rehab is going to be long and it’s going to be tedious.”

Also Wednesday, rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came out of the game in the ninth inning after a slide in which he appeared to suffer an injured rib.

The Orioles now need to try and regroup and take one in a series where they could have already won two. But Baltimore ran into the same issue that’s caused trouble all season long — late-inning pitching problems.

Manager Brandon Hyde wasn’t happy because the Oriole pitchers had problems staying ahead in the count. Miguel Castro had particular problems doing that in the ninth as Toronto scored six runs, and he gave up the Grichuk grand slam on a 3-1 pitch.

MLB.com reported that the six earned runs Castro gave up were a career high for him.

“You just can’t pitch from behind in the count in the big leagues,” Hyde said.

In regards to health, the Orioles once again did not go to 24-year-old Hunter Harvey in the last two innings. After the game it was announced Baltimore has shut down the right-hander — who’s dealt with several injuries while making his way to the major leagues late this season — for the remainder of the campaign as he deals with biceps soreness in his pitching arm.

Harvey had pitched only once since Sept. 2.

Also, outfielder Mason Williams does not have a concussion after crashing into the wall in left-center during Tuesday’s game, but said to MASN.com Wednesday that his left leg was very sore. His status remains uncertain.

Gabriel Ynoa (1-8, 5.74 ERA) starts for the Orioles in Thursday’s series finale. He’ll go against Wilmer Font (4-4, 4.21), who might be more of an opener for Toronto.

Ynoa is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three appearances versus the Jays. Font has no record and a 2.25 ERA in two games against Baltimore.

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