Guerrero, Biggio lift Jays over Orioles

BLUE JAYS 5, ORIOLES 2

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio hit two-run doubles as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Baltimore Orioles 5-2 Sunday afternoon in Buffalo.

Toronto starter Ross Stripling (3-4) allowed two runs, six hits and one walk in five-plus innings. Jordan Romano pitched the ninth to earn his sixth save.

Stripling said during his postgame Zoom call that he wasn't particularly sharp. The wind, he said, was howling, which pushed his sliders, curveballs and changeups.

“I did not feel necessarily super sharp, but I'm happy to go five innings and give our team a chance,” Stripling said.

Taking two of three games in Baltimore and three of four in Buffalo, the Jays flexed their muscles against an inferior Orioles team that is scrappy, has some decent pieces, but is far from a finished product.

Baltimore starter Jorge Lopez (2-10) allowed five runs, 10 hits and four walks in 42/3 innings.

Ryan Mountcastle hit his 13th homer of the season with two out in the first inning for the Orioles to go up 1-0. Mountcastle has recorded four of his 13 long balls against the Jays.

Toronto scored once in the second after loading the bases on a single by Teoscar Hernandez and walks by George Springer and Biggio. Hernandez scored on Randal Grichuk's double-play grounder.

Guerrero hit a two-run double in the third, scoring Reese Mcguire, who had walked, and Marcus Semien, who had singled. Guerrero was thrown out at home by left fielder DJ Stewart when he tried to score on Biggio's single.

The Jays have won seven of their past eight games, largely due to their deep offensive lineup. The club's record should be much better than its current 40-36 mark had the bullpen come through in late-game situations earlier this month.

Plenty of vitriol has been hurled at Toronto's beleaguered relievers, but the unit did its job Sunday, shutting out the Orioles during the final four innings. Patrick Murphy, Tim Mayza, Anthony Castro and Romano closed out the game for Toronto.

“The whole clubhouse has great energy,'' Mcguire said. “Guys are excited to show up every day just expecting to win.”

The Jays have Monday off before they open a three-game series in Buffalo against Seattle.