Otto Lopez hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning as the playoff-bound Toronto Blue Jays defeated the host Baltimore Orioles 5-1 in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.
Gabriel Moreno opened the seventh with a base hit and reached third on Bradley Zimmer’s fielder’s choice because of Cionel Perez’s errant throw. The error allowed Zimmer to reach as well, and Zimmer stole second before coming around to score along with Moreno when Lopez ripped the go-ahead single to center with one out.
In the regular-season finale, the Blue Jays used six pitchers to combine on a four-hitter in the victory after five pitchers went to the mound for Toronto in the opener.
The Blue Jays (92-70), who won five of their last six games, head to the American League playoffs as the top wild-card entry and will host the Mariners starting Friday.
The Orioles (83-79) ended their best season since 2016. They finished with a 45-36 home record.
Baltimore rallied from a four-run deficit to win 5-4 in the opener of the twin bill.
In the second game, Zimmer added a two-run single in the eighth. Lopez and Moreno each had two hits.
Jesus Aguilar had two hits, including a double, for Baltimore.
Yusei Kikuchi (6-7) was the winning pitcher with 1 2/3 shutout innings of relief.
Yennier Cano (1-1) took the loss, though Perez gave up Lopez’s go-ahead hit.
Toronto scored first on Danny Jansen’s RBI groundout in the first inning.
The Orioles, just like in the first game, didn’t score until the sixth. They tied the game on a run-scoring double from Kyle Stowers.
After the teams combined for 23 hits in Game 1, there were 12 hits in the second game.
Toronto reliever Casey Lawrence, who gave up one run and three hits in 2 1/3 innings, had the longest stint among the Blue Jays pitchers in the second game. Trent Thornton threw the last two innings.
–Field Level Media
