TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Friday night at Rogers Centre, improving to 1-1 on the young season. Kevin Gausman pitched six strong innings for Toronto, while Jackson Holliday’s solo home run provided a highlight for Baltimore in a game that saw the Blue Jays pull away with a five-run fourth inning.
Gausman (1-0) allowed two runs on three hits, striking out four and walking one to earn the win. The right-hander settled in after Holliday’s third-inning homer, retiring nine of the final ten batters he faced. Toronto’s offense supported him with 14 hits, including a key outburst against Orioles starter Charlie Morton, who struggled in his season debut.
Morton (0-1) lasted just 3.1 innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits. The veteran right-hander, acquired by Baltimore in the offseason, couldn’t find his rhythm, exiting after Toronto’s big fourth inning. Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each doubled in the frame, and Nathan Lukes drove in a run to cap a rally that gave the Blue Jays a 5-1 lead.
Toronto added three more runs late, with Ernie Clement’s two-run double off reliever Cionel Pérez in the seventh proving decisive. Baltimore’s bullpen, including Albert Suárez and Gregory Soto, couldn’t stem the tide, allowing seven earned runs total. The Orioles’ offense, meanwhile, managed just three hits, with Holliday’s homer and Ryan O’Hearn’s single the lone bright spots.
Holliday, Baltimore’s top prospect, went 2-for-3, including his first career home run in the third. The 21-year-old second baseman, called up earlier this month, showed promise despite the loss. “He’s going to be a special player,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said postgame, according to MLB.com. Adley Rutschman scored the Orioles’ other run after drawing a walk and advancing on a passed ball.
For Toronto, Bichette and Guerrero Jr. each had two hits and an RBI, while George Springer stole a base and scored. The Blue Jays’ depth shone through, with eight starters reaching base. “We got contributions up and down the lineup,” manager John Schneider told reporters, per ESPN. Toronto’s defense also turned two double plays to stifle Baltimore’s chances.
The Orioles’ fielding faltered, with errors by Jorge Mateo and Rutschman contributing to Toronto’s scoring. Mateo’s throwing miscue in the fourth set up the Blue Jays’ rally, while Rutschman’s errant throw allowed Springer to advance. Baltimore’s 0-for-2 mark with runners in scoring position further hampered their effort.
Gausman’s outing marked his first win against Baltimore since leaving the Orioles in 2021. The 34-year-old, who signed with Toronto as a free agent, has a 3.00 ERA through two starts this season. Relievers Yimi García, Luke Little, and Nick Sandlin closed out the game, allowing no hits over the final three innings.
Baltimore, now 1-1 and third in the AL East, looks to rebound in Saturday’s matchup. Toronto, sitting fifth in the division, aims to build momentum. The game drew 26,289 fans, who enjoyed a 72-degree night with the roof closed at Rogers Centre. First pitch was at 7:08 p.m., and the contest lasted 3 hours and 1 minute.
