Home runs cost Blue Jays in loss to Orioles

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The Blue Jays’ greatest area of deficiency once again bit the team at the absolute worst time.

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Even head honcho Mark Shapiro pointed to the sore spot hours before the team’s game Wednesday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles when he cited the bullpen as the biggest culprit, among other areas, for the team’s disappointing season.

Anthony Santander homered from both sides of the plate as he continues to elevate his free-agent stock (he sure would look good in a Blue Jays uniform), while phenom Jackson Holliday produced his fourth homer and third against the Blue Jays. Toronto led 3-2 through two innings only to fall, 7-3, as the birds from Baltimore tied the three-game series with the rubber match scheduled for Thursday.

Santander also made a Daulton Varsho-like play in right field to prevent the Jays from scoring on a sharply hit ball by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

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In the Blue Jays’ perpetually fluid lineup, which figures to change game to game until the Sept. 29 season finale is played, Ernie Clement hit in the No. 2 hole. A low point for Clement: He was the victim of an Orioles pickoff play to end the second inning with Guerrero at bat.

Also of note was Alejandro Kirk, who homered in the Blue Jays’ win on Tuesday, hitting cleanup.

The two fixtures were George Springer hitting leadoff and Vlad Jr. in his customary No. 3 hole.

Vlad Jr. also started at third base, but made two errors, one fielding, one throwing. He did extend his hit streak to 19 games with a first-inning single.

The announced crowd of 37,547 showed up quite early in hopes of getting their hands on a Springer replica hockey jersey, the night’s promotional giveaway.

Springer’s young family took part in throwing out the first pitch, adding another uplifting layer to the night.

The night turned sour in the fateful seventh inning, when Baltimore regained the lead on Holliday’s two-run homer.

Baltimore scored three add-on runs in the eighth, highlighted by Santander’s second homer of the night, his 34th of the season. Four of his past five belts have come against the Blue Jays.

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