Blue Jays bats go quiet as Toronto loses to Baltimore Orioles again

Popular outfielder Kevin Pillar was dealt to the San Francisco Giants earlier in the day for three players: right-handed reliever Derek Law, utility infielder Alen Hanson and right-handed pitching prospect Juan De Paula.

Toronto also acquired speedy outfielder Socrates Brito from San Diego and released pitcher Bud Norris from his minor-league deal.

“It was a pretty tough day,” said Marcus Stroman, who took the loss Tuesday. “I lost one of my brothers, KP. I mean I can’t honestly say enough good words about that dude.”

“But at the end of the day it starts to become pretty normal to you,” he added. “It’s a business and you’re reminded of that every day.”

The business paid off big-time for the 27-year-old Grichuk.

“It’s a good day for my family and my future family,” he said.

“I love the city. I like the direction the team is going. I see their vision. I see a lot of young talented players that can be very impactful. They have a vision and I want to be a part of it.” he added.

Not everyone is buying in.

The game drew 12,110, an improvement from Monday’s 10,460. A $1 hot dog special may have helped — slightly — at the turnstiles.

The smallest home crowd at Rogers Centre was 10,314 on April 19, 2010. The smallest home crowd ever was 10,074 at Exhibition Stadium on April 17, 1979.

Toronto, its offence largely missing in action, lost its third in a row. Baltimore scored all the runs it needed in the sixth inning.

Jays DH Rowdy Tellez homered deep to centre — 449 feet into the Flight Deck — with one out in the ninth to make things interesting. But Freddy Galvis flied out after Grichuk’s out to end the comeback.

Baltimore outhit Toronto 10-6.

For the second night in a row, the Jays ran into a dialed-in Orioles pitcher. David Hess threw 6 1/3 no-hit innings Monday when Baltimore staved off a late Jays rally to win 6-5.

Cashner (1-1), who went 4-15 last season with a 5.29 earned-run average, restricted Toronto to singles in the fourth and fifth before loading the bases with two outs in the sixth on two singles and a walk. Tellez flied out to left to end the inning, however.

Cashner allowed four hits — all singles — with three walks and three strikeouts in all. He threw 89 pitches, 57 for strikes.

“He came out from the very first inning and was pounding the strike zone,” said Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde.

Paul Fry, with two innings, and former Blue Jay Miguel Castro, who got the save despite giving up the homer in the ninth, finished it off for Baltimore.

The Jays’ early hitting woes continued, with just one walk accounting for the offence in the first three innings Tuesday. Monday’s loss had marked the fourth time in five games that Toronto failed to get a runner on base in the first three innings.

“We’re not having good swings right now but I know one thing for sure. I know this team is better than that,” said manager Charlie Montoyo. “I don’t know when that’s going to happen but we’re going to hit. I know that.

“It’s a proven record. The stats are right there and they’re going to hit. Right now, of course, we’re not hitting. Hopefully it starts tomorrow.”

Stroman (0-1), in his 110th career start, bent but didn’t break until the sixth when Jonathan Villar tripled home Dwight Smith Jr., with no outs for a 1-0 lead. Trey Mancini then drove in Villar with a single. A double play cleared the bases and Toronto escaped further damage.

The runs ended Stroman’s 12-inning scoreless streak to start the season.

“I think he was outstanding again,” said Montoyo. “He gave us a chance again. It’s not easy pitching with no room for error … I always feel like we have a chance when Stroman’s pitching.”

A subsequent walk marked the end of Stroman’s evening. He gave way to Tim Mayza after yielding two runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Stroman threw 101 pitches including 63 strikes.

Daniel Hudson and Javy Guerra also pitched for Toronto.

Baltimore threatened in the ninth with a Joey Rickard double with one out in the ninth, followed by an intentional walk to Chris Davis. But a fine play at third by Brandon Drury ended the inning.

Anthony Alford made his first start in centre field, summoned from Triple-A Buffalo to appear in his 18th major-league game. The 24-year-old struck out, grounded out and flied out.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Blue Jays bats go quiet as Toronto loses to Baltimore Orioles again

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