BALTIMORE– Zach Eflin had a gutsy pitching performance in his Orioles debut, Anthony Santander hit his 30th home run and Baltimore cruised past the Toronto Blue Jays 11-5 on Monday in the opener of a doubleheader.
Retrieved Friday from Tampa Bay for three minor leaguers, Eflin (6-7) provided an immediate boost to Baltimore’s thin rotation. Despite giving up 10 hits in six innings, including a three-run homer, Eflin struck out seven and walked none for the AL East leaders.
“He gave up the home run, but he gave up a lot of singles,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
Released into the middle of a pennant race after pitching for the mediocre Rays, Eflin enjoyed the change of scenery.
“It was amazing. The crowd loved it – very different from Tampa,” Eflin said. “It was a lot of fun, honestly, to be there with a good, young, energetic team.”
The right-hander was backed by an offense that built a four-run lead in the first inning and extended the lead to 7-0 in the fourth. Santander made it 10-3 in the fifth on a three-run shot by Yerry Rodríguez, Ryan Mountcastle hit a solo shot in the eighth, and Jordan Westburg finished with three doubles and two RBIs.
Addison Barger scored his first major league goal for last-place Toronto, three runs behind Eflin in the fifth. Barger came in second inning for first baseman Justin Turner, who was traded to Seattle during the game.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was also honored by the Blue Jays, who were coming off a three-game sweep of Texas.
Toronto right-hander Yariel Rodríguez (1-4) walked the first three batters he faced before Mountcastle hit an RBI single and Westburg followed with a run-scoring groundout. After a catcher’s interference call, Rodríguez drew a two-out walk and hit James McCann in the face with a fastball to force in another run for a 4-0 lead.
McCann was treated for a serious nose bleed at the base and on the bench, but continued in the game.
“That was a scary scene. It just shows how tough this guy is,” Hyde said. “He was obviously dazed and the blood wouldn’t stop.”
Hyde said McCann did not suffer a traumatic brain injury or eye injury.
“We suspect he has a broken nose,” Hyde said. “All signs now are that he dodged a major bullet.”
The pitch that hit McCann was the last for Rodríguez, who allowed four hits and walked one batter in the fewest of his 10 career starts.
The doubleheader was scheduled after rain delayed the game between Toronto and Baltimore on May 14.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: OF Kevin Kiermaier was sidelined with a left hip contusion, an injury that forced his early exit from Sunday’s game against Texas. “There are some sensitive points, but overall everything is fine,” he said on Monday.
NEXT
Toronto’s Bowden Francis (3-2, 5.82 ERA) was scheduled to face rookie left-hander Cade Povich (1-4, 6.27) in the nightcap.
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