Toronto experienced a disappointing loss as Hyun-Jin Ryu made his return to the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Baltimore Orioles dominated the game, defeating the Blue Jays 13-3, with Anthony Santander’s grand slam being a major turning point. Ryu, who had spent nearly 14 months recovering from his surgery, expressed a mix of nervousness and excitement. Although he didn’t perform as well as he had hoped, Ryu was grateful to be back in action and is determined to improve in his next outing.
Ryu allowed nine hits and a walk, but managed to limit Baltimore to four runs over five-plus innings. This was Ryu’s first start of the year, as he had undergone Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career last summer. Despite his mixed performance, Ryu expressed satisfaction with his return and emphasized the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of his outing. The Blue Jays bullpen, consisting of Trevor Richards, Genesis Cabrera, Nate Pearson, and Jordan Hicks, struggled, allowing nine runs.
After a challenging 2022 season that was cut short due to surgery, Ryu’s comeback is commendable. Most players take 18 months to recover from Tommy John surgery, but Ryu managed to return to the major league level in less than 14 months. Blue Jays manager John Schneider acknowledged Ryu’s perseverance and expressed happiness for his contribution to the team’s effort.
Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson played a significant role in the victory, going 2 for 4 at the plate, including a solo home run, and driving in four runs. Ryan Mountcastle also contributed with two RBI doubles, while Ryan McKenna added a two-run single and Adley Rutschman drove in a run. Kyle Bradish had a solid performance on the mound for the Orioles, striking out seven and allowing three runs over seven innings. Toronto’s Danny Jansen and Brandon Belt hit a two-run homer and a solo shot, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the Blue Jays.
The game started unfavorably for Ryu, as Rutschman and Mountcastle hit back-to-back doubles to give Baltimore an early 2-0 lead. However, Ryu settled down and showcased improved performance, facing 11 batters without allowing any runs in the next three innings. The Blue Jays’ defense also played a crucial role, executing double plays to end the third and fifth innings.
Despite Ryu’s efforts, his night ended after giving up a solo home run to Henderson in the sixth inning. Henderson’s 18th homer of the season restored Baltimore’s lead. Mountcastle added another run in the seventh, doubling Jorge Mateo across the plate. Henderson’s hit in the same inning scored Mountcastle and Austin Hays, extending Baltimore’s lead to 7-3. In the eighth inning, Nate Pearson struggled on the mound, walking three consecutive Orioles and setting the stage for Santander’s grand slam, which further widened Baltimore’s lead. McKenna’s RBI single in the ninth inning sealed the Orioles’ victory.
In other news, Blue Jays’ star shortstop Bo Bichette is currently day to day with right knee discomfort. Bichette left a game earlier in the week after appearing to injure his knee, but the MRI revealed no significant damage.
Looking ahead, Yusei Kikuchi will start for the Blue Jays in the next game against Baltimore, while Grayson Rodriguez will take the mound for the Orioles.
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