TORONTO (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 16th homer, then singled home the winning run in the 10th inning that lifted the Toronto Blue Jays over the Baltimore Orioles 7-6 Wednesday night.
Orioles rookie Adley Rutschman hit his first career home run and got his first two RBIs. Ryan Mountcastle homered twice, but Baltimore lost for the eighth time in nine meetings against Toronto.
Leading off the 10th against Félix Bautista (2-2), Guerrero lined a single to left that scored automatic runner Bo Bichette from second base.
“I told (on deck hitter Alejandro) Kirk just to be ready because I thought I was going to get walked,” Guerrero said through a translator.” When I saw they were going to pitch to me I said ‘Well, the game is over right here.’”
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he considered walking Guerrero, but decided against it.
“Bautista is not a ground ball guy, he throws 101 miles an hour,” Hyde explained. “If the count goes a little deeper, possibly. You’ve got Kirk and (Tesocar) Hernández, some really good hitters, behind him. Give Vladdy credit, he got on top of 100.”
Guerrero went 3 for 4 and scored three times as Toronto won for the 15th time in 20 games.
It was the first game-ending hit of his career.
“It means a lot to me,” Guerrero said through a translator. “It’s the first walk-off I’ve had in the big leagues so you’ve got to feel really happy with that.”
Matt Chapman and Hernández each hit two-run homers in the third inning. Toronto is 17-8 when hitting two or more homers.
Adam Cimber (7-2) worked one inning of relief for the win.
Baltimore trailed 6-2 through six innings but Mountcastle connected twice, his 11th and 12th of the season, to help the Orioles tie it.
Mountcastle made it 6-3 with a solo…
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