Alejandro Kirk hits 2-run homer, Brett Bateman has a solo shot as Blue Jays beat Orioles 7-3

TORONTO (AP) — Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run home run, Brett Bateman added a solo shot and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Pete Alonso hit his 35th home run for Baltimore, a two-run blast off Paul Sewald in the seventh inning, but the Orioles lost for the eighth time in 11 September games.

Kirk had two hits and drove in three as the Blue Jays won for the second time in six games and ensured they would not lose ground in the AL wild card race. Toronto entered two games behind Cleveland for the final playoff spot.

Kirk and Bateman both connected off Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (7-14) in the third.

Bateman’s first career home run came in the ninth inning of Friday’s 7-4 loss. Saturday’s was his second.

George Springer singled and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out before Kirk homered to left. Eight of Kirk’s 10 homers have come since the All-Star break.

Guerrero scored the first run after an RBI double in the first and came around on Kirk’s single.

Spencer Miles opened for Toronto and struck out five in two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks.

Joe Mantiply worked a 1-2-3 third before Spencer Arrighetti (8-9) entered and allowed one unearned run in 2 2/3 innings. Arrighetti walked two and struck out a pair.

Mason Fluharty and Sewald each got two outs, Tyler Rogers worked the eighth and Louis Varland finished for Toronto.

Starting on his 30th birthday, Bradish gave up five runs and eight hits in three innings, his ninth consecutive winless outing. He’s 0-5 with a 5.83 ERA since winning at Boston on July 22.

Orioles LHP Trevor Rogers (10-9, 4.15) is scheduled to start for the Orioles on Sunday against RHP Dylan Cease (10-5, 2.40 ERA).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30), right, celebrates his two run home run with George Springer (4) during third inning a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) sprints in to score on a single by Alejandro Kirk (30), not shown, during first inning a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Baltimore Orioles' Dylan Beavers (12), left, and Gunnar Henderson (2) can't make the catch during second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Spencer Miles (62) works against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30) hits an RBI single against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

TOKYO (AP) — A strong earthquake shook central Japan early Sunday, shattering store windows, causing people to flee buildings and leaving at least 22 people injured, according to local media.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency put the quake’s magnitude at 5.7, while the U.S. Geological Survey reported it at magnitude 5.5. Smaller aftershocks were reported.

A wide area near Aichi Prefecture was affected, including the city of Hamamatsu, the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara and nearby prefectures of Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji is located, as well as Gifu.

Japanese TV footage showed shattered store windows and scattered shards of glass on the streets. A bookstore was left with mounds of books that had flown off the shelves. The injuries included people who fell from stairs while they were trying to flee.

The quake, which struck at 1:04 a.m., was located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) below the earth's surface in Shizuoka Prefecture. Aichi and Shizuoka are neighboring regions. They are far enough from Tokyo that the quake was not felt there. The most violent shaking was felt in Aichi, according to official seismic assessments.

The meteorological agency warned people to brace for possible strong quakes in the coming week, especially the next two to three days.

“Please be on the lookout for mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall,” Ayataka Ebita, an agency official, told reporters.

He said no apparent change was detected so far to the Nankai Trough plate, where scientists say a megaquake can possibly hit.

The Shinkansen bullet trains were running at slower speeds in the affected areas as a precautionary measure. Sometimes quakes can damage the railways the trains run on.

Japan is located in an area that is prone to earthquakes. Authorities frequently instruct people to stock up on bottled water, food and batteries, have plans ready to hide under tables and keep comfortable walking shoes at hand.

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

A staff member of Japan’s Meteorological Agency speaks at a news conference in Tokyo Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, following a strong earthquake in central Japan. (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/Kyodo News via AP)