Bichette hit a triple off Nick Vespi in the third inning, then added solo drives in the sixth and seventh off Bruce Zimmermann. The shortstop had six hits and seven RBIs during the doubleheader, is hitting .400 (24 for 60) over his last 15 games and has 21 home runs this season. Bichette singled to center in the ninth when he had a chance to tie the major league record of four home runs in a game. He matched a career high with five RBIs in the nightcap. Toronto won Game 1 7-3 behind Kevin Gausman, who allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings in his first outing at Camden Yards since Baltimore traded him in July 2018. Cavan Biggio also homered in the second game for the Blue Jays, who extended their lead over Baltimore to 4 1/2 games for the AL’s third and final wild-card spot. The teams will meet 10 times in the final 31 days of the regular season, a streak that began Monday. Rougned Odor and Adley Rutschman drove in the second game for Baltimore. The Orioles have lost three straight, their longest skid since a four-game skid from June 28th to July 2nd. Toronto starter José Berríos (10-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in six-plus innings. He took out two. Baltimore scratched projected starter Jordan Lyles between games of the doubleheader. Lyles went to warm up but was not feeling well and was replaced by Keegan Akin (3-2). Akin allowed two runs in 2 1/3 innings, both coming around Bichette’s blast that put Toronto ahead 3-1. The Blue Jays opened the sixth against Zimmerman. Bichette led off with a homer to secure the eighth game of his career and Biggio followed with a solo drive two batters later. After a back-to-back single, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run double. Bichette came back with one out in the seventh, becoming the first Blue Jays player with a three-inning game since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. he did it on April 13 against the New York Yankees. Teoscar Hernández hit his 20th home run in the first game in support of Gausman (11-9), selected by Baltimore fourth overall in the 2012 draft. He zipped through the club’s minor league system and played for the Orioles from 2013-18. His biggest obstacle in his return to Baltimore was arguably a fourth-inning balk call. Gausman stormed off the mound and began arguing with second base umpire Jeff Nelson before Bisset rushed to hold him back. Baltimore’s Anthony Santander homered from both sides of the plate for his seventh career multi-game home run in the opener. Mike Baumann (1-3), added as the Orioles’ 29th starter, allowed three runs in five innings in his first career start. The holiday locker included a rainout Aug. 10 during Toronto’s first visit to Baltimore this season. COACH ROOM Blue Jays: Toronto activated RHP Julian Merryweather (abdominal strain) from the 60-day injured list before Game 2. The Blue Jays optioned RHP Casey Lawrence to Triple-A Buffalo and designated C Zack Collins for assignment. … RHP Zach Pop was added as the team’s 29th man. Pop hit a scoreless single in the first. Orioles: In addition to adding Baumann, Baltimore recalled RHP Beau Sulser from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned RHP Rico Garcia to Norfolk. Sulser was optioned to return to Norfolk after pitching one inning in the first game. Baltimore recalled Zimmerman from Norfolk for the second game. … Baltimore claimed RHP Jake Reed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and placed INF Jonathan Araúz on the restricted list. RHP Phoenix Sanders cleared off waivers and assigned to Norfolk. NEXT Blue Jays: RHP Mitch White (1-5, 4.67 ERA) is 0-2 with a 12.10 ERA in his last two outings. He faces Baltimore for the first time on Tuesday. Orioles: RHP Kyle Bradish (3-5, 5.17) has allowed four hits in 15 scoreless innings over his last two appearances to win back-to-back starts after earning just one win in his first 15 turns in the rotation. He is 0-1 with a 6.91 ERA in three outings against Toronto.
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