Kirk hits 3-run HR, Bassitt fans season-best 9 as Blue Jays beat Orioles 5-2

TORONTO (AP) — Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run home run, Chris Bassitt struck out a season-high nine in seven innings to snap a three-start losing streak and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Addison Barger hit a two-run double in Toronto’s five-run sixth inning as the Blue Jays handed Baltimore its 14th loss in its last 24 games. The Orioles fell behind the rained out Yankees atop the AL East for the first time since June 26.

Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was scratched minutes before the first pitch because of pain in his upper back and shoulder and will return to Baltimore for imaging, manager Brandon Hyde said.

Hyde said Rodriguez had no pain until he started preparing for Tuesday’s outing.

“He’s been feeling fine, threw a really good bullpen in Cleveland,” Hyde said. “It just came up tonight while he was warming up.”

Right-hander Albert Suárez started in place of Rodriguez and struck out six over five scoreless innings.

“To give us five innings in that kind of spot, that’s unbelievable,” Hyde said.

Suárez said he had about 20 minutes notice before the emergency start but was able to get ready in time.

“For me, it’s just whatever it takes to help the team,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for. I’m always going to be ready for the team out there.”

Toronto’s Daulton Varsho made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Gunnar Henderson in the seventh inning, and left fielder Joey Loperfido earned cheers in his Toronto debut with a diving play on Colton Cowser in the first.

Bassitt praised Varsho for his latest highlight-reel play.

“If he doesn’t win the Platinum Glove, we need to get rid of it,” Bassitt said. “He’s the best defender in all of baseball and it’s not even close.”

Bassitt (9-10) allowed two runs on three hits and walked two.

“I probably had my best slider I’ve had in years today,” he said.

Bassitt didn’t allow a hit until Orioles rookie Jackson Holliday homered with one out in the sixth.

“We didn’t do much off Bassitt the entire night,” Hyde said. “He really kept us off balance.”

Cowser finished 0 for 3, ending his career-best hitting streak at 17 games.

Bassitt walked Adley Rutschman to begin the eighth and left after back-to-back singles by Ryan Mountcastle and Eloy Jiménez loaded the bases.

Left-hander Génesis Cabrera replaced Bassitt and walked pinch hitter Austin Slater to force in a run. Cabrera struck out Ramón Urías and pinch hitter Coby Mayo before Anthony Santander grounded out to end the threat.

Right-hander Chad Green finished for his ninth save in nine chances.

Burch Smith replaced Suárez in the sixth and retired the first two batters before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled.

Left-hander Gregory Soto (2-5) came on but didn’t retire any of the first five batters he faced. Spencer Horwitz singled before Kirk homered to left, his first since June 10. Varsho doubled and Ernie Clement was intentionally walked, and both runners advanced on a double steal before scoring on Barger’s hit.

“I was missing with my sliders, my breaking pitches,” Soto said through a translator. “I wasn’t really able to command it and I paid the price for that.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: C James McCann underwent a successful nasal reduction realignment procedure Monday, the team said. McCann was hit in the face by a fastball in Game 1 of a doubleheader against Toronto last Monday. He was treated for a severe bloody nose and stayed in the game.

UP NEXT

LHP Trevor Rogers (2-10, 4.76 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start for Baltimore on Wednesday. RHP Bowden Francis (4-2, 5.68) goes for Toronto.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Baltimore Orioles Jackson Holliday rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk is doused by Steward Berroa after their team's win over the Baltimore Orioles in MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson forces out Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho and throws to first base to complete the double play during eighth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rounds second base after a single by Spencer Horwitz during sixth inning MLB baseball action against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) works against the Baltimore Orioles during first inning MLB action in Toronto on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk is handed the home run jacket by Steward Berroa after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Gregory Soto reacts during sixth inning MLB baseball action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Gregory Soto works against the Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger hits a two-run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger celebrates after hitting a two-run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. celebrates as Alejandro Kirk (right) hits a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk, right, is congratulated by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) watches from the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk hits a three-run home run as Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman looks on during sixth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Julio Rodríguez homered twice to drive in five runs, George Kirby went six innings for his 13th victory and the AL wild card-chasing Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 on Friday night.

Rodríguez put the Mariners (79-75) ahead to stay with his three-run homer in the fifth off Jack Leiter, who relieved Jacob deGrom after the two-time Cy Young Award winner made his first home start in nearly 17 months after elbow surgery.

Seattle remained two games behind Minnesota for the third and final wild card after the Twins beat Boston 4-2 in 12 innings. The Mariners stayed five back of Houston in the AL West with eight games remaining, three in Houston.

Rodríguez tied a career high for RBIs with his first multihomer game this season. His first homer put Seattle up 4-2, and he went deep off the rookie right-hander again in the seventh with a two-run shot the opposite way to right field for his 18th of the year.

Kirby (13-11) beat the reigning World Series champions again, five days after facing the minimum 21 batters over seven scoreless innings at home against them. The 26-year-old right-hander is 7-0 with a 1.15 ERA in nine career starts against Texas. He struck out four without a walk this time while allowing two runs on five hits.

Nathaniel Lowe had a two-run single for the Rangers (73-81), who have already been eliminated from the AL West race and are on the verge of being officially knocked out of wild-card contention and guaranteed a losing record.

Lowe's hit ended Kirby's streak of 34 consecutive scoreless innings against Texas in a span of seven starts since Sept. 28, 2022.

DeGrom struck out five over three innings, and the only run he allowed was when No. 9 batter Josh Rojas led off the third with a homer. Rojas later added a sacrifice fly.

Leiter (0-3) allowed seven runs (six earned) over five innings. He struck out five and walked two while throwing 57 of 92 pitches for strikes.

A week after throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his season debut on the road, also against the Mariners, deGrom threw 37 of 58 pitches for strikes and had one walk. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy had said the 36-year-old right-hander would throw about 60 pitches.

It was the first start at home for deGrom since he left in the middle of the fourth inning against the New York Yankees on April 28, 2023. That was the sixth and last start in the first season of his $185 million, five-year contract.

UP NEXT

Three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer (2-4, 3.95 ERA) makes his second start since coming off the IL after missing 40 games with right shoulder fatigue and an arm nerve issue. Rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock (3-4, 4.83) starts for Seattle.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe (30) hits a two-run single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez celebrates in the dugout after a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners Josh Rojas (4) celebrates in the dugout after a solo home run against the Texas Rangers in the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) and catcher Jonah Heim (28) walk back to the dugout in the first inning in a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez (44) hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez reacts toward the dugout as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)