Pannone roughed up early in Jays' loss to Orioles
Former MVP Josh Donaldson begins rehab assignment at single-A Dunedin
When rookie Josh Rogers got into a jam in the fifth inning, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter was reluctant to take him out.
He knew Rogers' parents were in the crowd for his major league debut and was hoping to end the night on a high note. So, Showalter decided to stay with the young pitcher.
Rogers recovered and won his first start, Tim Beckham hit a three-run homer and the Orioles rolled over the Toronto Blue Jays 12-5 on Tuesday night.
Watch highlights from the Jays' loss against the Orioles:
"It was a good start for him," Showalter said. "Got a win."
Rogers, acquired from the Yankees for closer Zach Britton in July, allowed three runs and seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk over five innings. He was the first left-handed pitcher to start a game for Baltimore this season.
"I couldn't have drawn it up any better," Rogers said. "Got some good run support early and pitching with run support makes it a heck of a lot easier, especially in a debut like that. Just tried to go out and pound the zone and let the defence work behind me, and they did a great job tonight."
Craig Gentry went 3 for 5 with his first home run and three RBIs for the Orioles, who won consecutive games for the first time this month. However, this night belonged to Rogers.
"I think he's got a bright future ahead of him," Gentry said. "He came out and got himself out of a couple of jams and battled and pitched a great game for us. Luckily, we were able to get some runs on the board for him and help him relax."
Trey Mancini added a double and a triple, while Adam Jones tied a career high with four hits.
Pannone struggles in 2nd MLB start
Blue Jays rookie left-hander Thomas Pannone (1-1) blanked the Orioles over seven innings last Wednesday to win his first major league start. This time, Pannone struggled, allowing seven runs and nine hits over 3 1/3 innings.
"I didn't execute pitches that well. I didn't get my secondary pitches over for a strike," Pannone said. "So, I kind of backed myself into a corner with just my fastball. And I didn't really have my best life on it either."
Justin Smoak and Randal Grichuk homered for the Blue Jays, who lost for just the third time in 15 games against Baltimore. Grichuk also tied a career high with four hits, including an RBI single in the ninth off Tanner Scott.
"Smokey has been a good player for us," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "And Grich isn't too far behind either."
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on a two-out single by Chris Davis that scored Mancini. Davis went 3 for 5 with three RBIs.
Baltimore pounded out 17 hits.
Mancini was also the spark in the third when he tripled and scored on a single by Jones. Davis followed with another single and Beckham hit a three-run shot that increased the lead to 5-0.
Toronto got on the board with an RBI single by Kevin Pillar in the fourth. After the Blue Jays won a manager's challenge and loaded the bases later that inning, Rogers struck out Aledmys Diaz to end the threat.
Gentry hit a two-run shot in the bottom half that extended the lead to 7-1, ending Pannone's night.
Donaldson begins rehab
Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson began his rehab assignment on Tuesday with the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays — just days ahead of the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline.
Donaldson batted second in the lineup and went 1 for 2 with a walk and RBI single in three plate appearances with Dunedin before being replaced at third base after five innings against the Palm Beach Cardinals.
The 2015 American League MVP, who has been sidelined with left calf tightness, walked in his first at-bat, followed with an RBI single in the third and flew out to centre in his final appearance.
Logan Warmoth opens the third with a triple, his second extra-base hit of the night, and Josh Donaldson brings him home with a line drive single to left!<br><br>Exit velo on that laser off the bat of Donaldson: 110 mph. For those of you in Canada, that's 177 kph (according to Google).
—@DunedinBlueJaysDonaldson has been out since May 29 in an injury-plagued 2018 season, preventing the Blue Jays from trading him if they wanted to do so.
Toronto could still move the 32-year-old prior to the waiver trade deadline if the deal is right.
He's been limited to 36 games with Toronto, hitting .234 with five home runs and 16 RBIs.
The three-time all-star is in his fourth season with the Blue Jays and is set to become a free agent in the off-season.