09/25/20 08:32:00
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09/25 20:30 CDT Grichuk, Shaw homer, Pearson returns as Blue Jays beat O's
Grichuk, Shaw homer, Pearson returns as Blue Jays beat O's
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) --- Randal Grichuk and Travis Shaw homered, Nate Pearson
returned from an elbow injury to pitch 1 1/3 scoreless innings and the
playoff-bound Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-5 Friday night.
Shaw narrowly missed a multihomer game, hitting a double in the seventh that
struck the top of the wall in right field and bounced back into play.
Pearson had been sidelined since a game Aug. 18 at Baltimore. He came on to
begin the fourth and struck out the first batter he faced, Austin Hays, on
three pitches.
The hard-throwing rookie right-hander reached 101.5 mph on his strike three
pitch to Hays. It was the fastest pitch by a Blue Jays pitcher since tracking
began in 2008, eclipsing a 101.2 mph pitch by Brandon Morrow in 2014.
A starter earlier this season, Pearson will pitch out of the bullpen in the
playoffs. The Blue Jays have been without closer Ken Giles for much of the
season because of an elbow injury that will require surgery.
Toronto clinched its first postseason berth since 2016 by beating the Yankees
4-1 on Thursday. The Blue Jays are assured of at least a wild card and could
still edge out New York for second place in the AL East.
Grichuk hit a leadoff shot off Jorge Lpez in the second, his 11th, and Toronto
scored six runs in the inning, sending 10 batters to the plate.
Toronto chased Lpez and added two more in the third before Shaw connected on a
two-run shot off Tom Eshelman in the fourth.
Lpez (2-2) allowed eight runs and nine hits in two-plus innings, losing for
the second straight start. He's 0-2 with an 11.20 ERA in five games against
Toronto.
Baltimore's Ramn Uras and Cedric Mullins hit back-to-back solo home runs off
Shun Yamaguchi in the fifth, and Jos Iglesias connected off the Japanese
right-hander in the sixth.
Orioles rookie Ryan Mountcastle went 2 for 3 with a walk.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: GM Ross Atkins said INF Rowdy Tellez (knee) is unlikely to be
healthy in time for the opening round of the playoffs. ... RHP Jordan Romano
(strained right middle finger) threw a second bullpen session Friday and
remains in the mix for a postseason roster spot. ... INF Cavan Biggio got the
day off, his first of the season.
Orioles: Renato Nunez (knee) sat for the second straight game but was available
off the bench and is likely to play again before the season ends, manager
Brandon Hyde said.
UP NEXT
Baltimore LHP John Means (2-3, 5.02) faces Blue Jays RHP Matt Shoemaker (0-1,
4.71) on Saturday night. Means is 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in four September starts.
Shoemaker returned from a sore shoulder to pitch three innings against the
Yankees on Sept. 21.
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