Burnes pitches first-place Orioles past depleted Blue Jays 6-2
By David Ginsburg, The Associated Press on July 30, 2024.
BALTIMORE (AP) – Corbin Burnes took a two-hitter into the seventh inning, Ramón UrÃas and Anthony Santander homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat the depleted Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 on Tuesday night. Baltimore built a 4-0 lead in the third inning and improved to 6-6 since the MLB All-Star break to remain atop the American League East. Burnes gave up two runs and four hits with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Although the Orioles added starters Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers before the trade deadline, Burnes (11-4, 2.47 ERA) remains the unquestioned ace of the staff. The four-time All-Star and 2021 Cy Young Award winner has gone at least six innings in 17 straight starts, allowed three runs or fewer in 21 of 22 outings and is on course for his fourth straight season with at least 200 strikeouts. While the Orioles over the past week sought to upgrade their roster for a playoff run, the last-place Blue Jays made deals with the future in mind. After unloading infielder Justin Turner and reliever Yusei Kikuchi on Monday, Toronto dealt reliever Trevor Richards, infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier hours before the trade deadline Tuesday. Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (8-10) gave up five runs and nine hits in four innings, including a solo homer to UrÃas and a two-run single to Ryan O’Hearn in a three-run third. UrÃas singled in a run in the fourth and Santander hit his 31st home run in the fifth off Brendon Little for a 6-1 lead. Toronto finished with five hits, four of them singles. TRAINER’S ROOM Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk left the game with a bruised elbow. UP NEXT Grayson Rodriguez (12-4, 3.82 ERA) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday in the series finale. Toronto manager John Schneider did not name his starter. — AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb 15-14
