Ernie Clement hits 3-run homer as Blue Jays overcome three Baltimore HRs to beat Orioles 6-4

TORONTO (AP) — Ernie Clement hit a three-run home run, Brandon Valenzuela had three hits and an RBI, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Saturday.

Pete Alonso hit a two-run home run for Baltimore, and Colton Cowser and Blaze Alexander both had solo shots, but it wasn’t enough for the Orioles.

Gunnar Henderson had three hits as the Orioles finished with six, ending an 11-game streak with seven hits or more.

Spencer Miles (3-1) allowed two runs and two hits in 4 1/3 innings to win for the second time in three appearances. He walked one and struck out five.

Louis Varland pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save in 10 chances as Toronto improved to 19-7 when scoring five or more runs.

Clement went 2 for 4 with a triple and scored twice. He also made a highlight defensive play in the eighth, diving to snare Alonso’s grounder and throwing from his knees for the out.

Six straight Toronto batters reached in a four-run fourth against Kyle Bradish (3-7).

Braydon Fisher opened for Toronto and struck out two in the first, stranding runners at second and third. Miles gave up Cowser’s one-out homer in the second but retired 11 of the next 12 batters.

Jeff Hoffman replaced Miles with one on and one out in the sixth but Alonso greeted him with his 13th homer of the season to right.

Alexander hit a one-out homer off Mason Fluharty in the seventh.

The Orioles lost for the ninth time when hitting two or more home runs.

Bradish allowed five runs and nine hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (4-4, 3.36 ERA) is expected to start Sunday against Oriole RHP Shane Baz (3-5, 4.29).

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Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) loses his helmet while swinging for a strike during in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer, right, dodges the tag from Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) during a rundown in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement (22) is greeted by teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto (7) hits an RBI single during the econd inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement (22) hits a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

MIAMI (AP) — Steven Matz is moving from the starting rotation to the bullpen after a pair of poor starts by the Tampa Bay Rays left-hander, manager Kevin Cash said Saturday.

Matz, who signed a two-year, $15 million deal with Tampa Bay in December, allowed five runs on six hits, including two home runs, in an 8-0 loss to Detroit on Tuesday. It was his second straight loss and raised his ERA to 5.48 this season.

The 35-year-old had gone on the injured list on May 4 because of left elbow inflammation and returned on May 20. In his last two starts, he has allowed 11 runs, 13 hits and three home runs, while walking two with four strikeouts.

“It's not by any stretch permanent,” Cash said ahead of Saturday's game at Miami. “He will pitch out of the pen for the foreseeable future and then we will reassess.”

Cash said Matz's replacement in the rotation has not been solidified but right-hander Mason Englert, who was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, could work bulk innings in his place.

“We'll figure it out,” Cash said. “I think he'll (be) in line right now to provide a lengthier role on that day, but we're not just going to start him unless we have to.”

Matz went 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA and two saves last season in a career-high 53 appearances with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox. He struck out 59 and walked 11 in 76 2/3 innings.

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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Steven Matz reacts after giving up a home run to Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Pérez during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in St. Petersburg Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Steven Matz throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)