Orioles tag Blue Jays for 16 hits in series-opening win

Cedric Mullins and Coby Mayo belted back-to-back home runs and Adley Rutschman had a big game at the plate in his first game off the injured list as the Baltimore Orioles rapped the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 11-4 on Monday night.

Ramon Laureano and Colton Cowser also homered and Jordan Westburg joined Rutschman and Mayo with three hits. Baltimore had 16 hits in the first of four meetings between the teams across three days.

Corbin Martin (1-0) was the winning pitcher with 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief. It marked his second victory in the major leagues, and his first since 2019.

Bo Bichette had four hits, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Nathan Lukes each hit home runs for the Blue Jays, who've lost two games in a row for the first time since the All-Star break.

The Orioles, who've won four of their last five games, tagged Toronto starter Chris Bassitt (11-5) for six runs in 2 1/3 innings. He had gone 4-0 in his first four starts in July.

Baltimore starter Zach Eflin lasted 4 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Lukes and Guerrero Jr. both hit their home runs in the third inning.

Rutschman's two-run double in the bottom of the third inning broke a tie to put Baltimore up 5-3. Laureano singled in the next run.

Laureano's 15th homer of the season was a two-run shot in the fifth for a 9-4 advantage. Mullins also has 15 long balls this year. Ryan O'Hearn and Mullins also had two hits.

Baltimore relievers blanked the Blue Jays across the last five innings.

The series pits the AL East Division-leading Blue Jays against the last-place Orioles. The teams meet in a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media