May 15, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Adley Rutschman (35) connects on a game winning, two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE—The Orioles regular-season sweepless streak, which has lasted nearly two years, lives on thanks to Adley Rutschman’s game-winning home run. With the Orioles trailing by one run in the bottom of the ninth, Rutschman’s two-run home run scored Jordan Westburg, and gave the Orioles a dramatic 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 29,578 on Wednesday.
The Orioles (27-14) not only extended their sweepless streak to 105 but made sure they didn’t have their first three-game losing streak of the season.
Westburg, who in his first at-bat as a leadoff hitter hit his sixth home run against Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi, reached first in the ninth with a bad-hop single against Jordan Romano (1-1). On a 2-1 pitch, Rutschman hit a home run that just cleared the right field wall. It was his second game-winning home run of the season and his fourth home run in the last three games.
Danny Coulombe (1-0) pitched the top of the ninth inning and got the victory.
The Orioles got runners on base against Kikuchi, who worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and a walk but didn’t score against him.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Orioles wasted an excellent opportunity when James McCann led off with a single. Austin Hays, pinch-hitting for Cedric Mullins, who’s now 5-for-59, doubled in his first at-bat since April 20th against Genesis Cabrera.
Yimi Garcia relieved Cabrera and struck out Westburg. He then walked Rutschman intentionally to load the bases. Ryan Mountcastle fouled out on the first pitch and Gunnar Henderson grounded to first.
In the bottom of the eighth, Anthony Santander led off with a double and was bunted to third by Jorge Mateo. Colton Cowser was walked intentionally, and with two strikes, McCann attempted to score Santander with a bunt, but Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. threw home in time to get Santander on a close play at the plate.
Tim Mayza struck out pinch-hitter Ramón Urías to end the eighth.
Oriole starter Kyle Bradish threw 85 pitches and allowed two runs on Bo Bichette’s double off the glove of Santander in right that scored George Springer and Guerrero in the third.
Bradish allowed two runs on four hits in four innings.
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