STREAK IS OVER:
Kendrys Morales’s run ends at seven, Jays fall to Orioles 7-0,
Kendrys Morales’s franchise-record home run streak ended at seven games Monday night in a 7-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Toronto’s designated hitter, who was named the American League Player of the Week earlier in the day after hitting .481 with eight home runs and 13 RBIs in his last seven games, was looking to join an elite crew of Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr., the only three players in Major League Baseball history to hit homers in a league-record eight consecutive games.
Morales, who was batting in the three-hole, first stepped up to the plate in the first inning, battling Orioles starter David Hess for eight pitches before he struck out. He advanced No. 2 hitter Billy McKinney, who had doubled, to third in his second at-bat in the fourth, grounding out to Hess. The designated hitter then walked in the sixth and struck out against reliever Paul Fry in his final at-bat in the eighth. His 0-for-3 performance also signalled the end of a 10game hit streak.
It was a better night for Baltimore designated hitter Trey Mancini, who was responsible for five of the Orioles’ seven runs.
Jays starter Sam Gaviglio breezed through the first five innings, giving up three hits, but started the sixth by surrendering singles to leadoff man Cedric Mullins and second baseman Jonathan Villar. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Gaviglio is- sued an intentional walk to right fielder Adam Jones to load the bases. An RBI groundout from first baseman Chris Davis put the Orioles up 1-0 before Mancini added to that margin with a three-run home run.
Gaviglio was chased two batters later after a single by third baseman Renato Nunez, giving up four runs on seven hits, walking two, striking out two and throwing a pair of wild pitches in his 5 2⁄3 innings. He was replaced by Danny Barnes, who was recalled with Murphy Smith earlier on Monday. Right-handed relievers Jake Petricka and Justin Shafer were optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Barnes got the Jays out of the sixth but didn’t make it out of the seventh himself, giving up a one- out walk to Villar and a single to Jones before Mancini cashed in both with a double. Shortstop Tim Beckham capped the home team’s scoring by cashing in Mancini with a single to left.
The inning was one to forget for Barnes but one to remember for Smith, who made his big-league debut when to took the ball with two outs. The 31-year-old, who had spent 10 seasons in the minor leagues before Monday, became the oldest player to debut for the Blue Jays and pitching 11⁄3 clean innings in his first showing.
The win was only Baltimore’s second of the season against Toronto. The Jays, who combined for seven hits on the night, went 0for-9 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.