BALTIMORE — Pete Alonso powered Baltimore out of a two-game scoreless drought with two home runs, including a go-ahead shot in the eighth, as the Orioles erased an early three-run deficit to beat Toronto 4-3 at Camden Yards. Shane Baz steadied after a rocky first inning and Baltimore held the Blue Jays scoreless over the final eight frames to complete the comeback.
Toronto struck for three in the top of the first after Baz was called for a pitch timer violation on a full count to leadoff hitter Brett Bateman, who trotted to first. Alejandro Kirk walked, Nathan Lukes singled to left to score the first run, George Springer added a run-scoring single and Sean Keys made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly. Kazuma Okamoto singled before Baz retired Josh Smith and Andrés Giménez to limit the damage. Baltimore answered in the bottom half when Alonso smoked a 101 MPH drive that cleared the scoreboard in right field for his 39th homer, his MLB-best 17th opposite-field home run.
Baz settled after the first. He delivered a clean second, used an inning-ending double play to erase a walk and single in the third, retired the side in order in the fourth, faced the minimum in the fifth and went three-up, three-down in the sixth. He recorded two outs in the seventh before giving way to Yennier Cano, finishing with 6.2 innings, five hits, three walks and three earned runs. Gunnar Henderson provided Baltimore's second hit with a 105 MPH triple off the center-field wall with one out in the fourth but was stranded, then cut the deficit to 3-2 with a solo homer in the sixth, his 24th of the season.
Baltimore threatened again in the seventh when Christian Encarnacion-Strand led off with a single to left, but Carlos Narváez — who entered after starter Samuel Basallo took multiple foul balls off his body — popped a bunt attempt to the pitcher and Rece Hinds grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Orioles broke through in the eighth after Christian Franklin pinch-hit for Colton Cowser and worked a leadoff walk. Jeremiah Jackson and Dylan Beavers failed to advance the runner, but Alonso delivered against submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers, hooking a belt-high pitch toward Mr. Splash for his 40th homer and a 4-3 lead.
Cano posted a zero in the eighth and Rico Garcia closed the ninth in a save situation, striking out Keys and Okamoto before retiring Smith to end it. The win moved Baltimore to 76-81 and dropped Toronto to 77-80, with Chicago holding the final wild card spot at 80-76. The victory snapped the scoreless skid that followed Brewers Set Franchise Record With 98th Win in 3-0 Sweep of Orioles.