The Toronto Blue Jays (37-25) took down the Baltimore Orioles (27-37) in extra innings 7-6 behind an incredible performance from superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Let’s take a look at how this game progressed and the impact Guerrero Jr. had throughout its entirety.
Building the Lead
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Orioles starter Bruce Zimmerman got two quick outs from George Springer and Bo Bichette. Guerrero Jr. wanted to make Zimmerman work as he hit a single. This put a man on base for Alejandro Kirk who hit an RBI double to put the Jays up 1-0.
Guerrero Jr. came to bat in the bottom of the 3rd with one out and nobody on and ripped a single to center field. This started a big inning as Guerrero Jr. scored on a two-out two-run homer by Teoscar Hernandez. Two batters later Matt Chapman hit a two-run homer to put the Jays up 5-0.
In the bottom of the 5th, Guerrero Jr. led off with a solo home run, his 16th of the season. This put the Blue Jays up 6-2.
Bullpen Blunder
Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios had yet another quality start. He went seven innings where he gave up three runs on three hits and struck out eight batters.
Yimi Garcia was brought in to handle the top of the 8th inning. He retired the first two batters he faced before it all fell apart. Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays hit back-to-back doubles before Ryan Mountcastle hit a game-tying two-run homer.
The game went into extra innings tied at six.
Walk-Off Wednesday
The Orioles looked to take the lead in the top of the 10th. Blue Jays reliever Adam Cimber made some incredibly clutch pitches which kept the Orioles from bringing home the automatic runner on second. The game stayed tied going into the bottom of the 10th.
The Blue Jays had a chance to walk off the Orioles with one run in the 10th. Since Bo Bichette ended the bottom of the 9th he started the inning at second. This means that the man leading off the inning was Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who already had three hits.
Instead of intentionally walking him the Orioles decided to go right at him. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Guerrero Jr. ripped a ball into left field for a walk-off single.
Guerrero Jr. History
Guerrero Jr. has been in the MLB since 2019, but this was his first career walk-off.
This was only his third career four-hit game. It is the second time he has done it this season, the first was on April 13 against the New York Yankees. He has already doubled how many he had in his first three seasons.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues to be an MVP-caliber athlete for the Toronto Blue Jays. This game is a prime example of what he is capable of. The Blue Jays will look to Guerrero Jr. to lead them to another solid season in the very competitive American League East.
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