Blue Jays eliminated from playoffs after Orioles win doubleheader opener

The Toronto Blue Jays were eliminated from postseason contention on Wednesday after losing 4-2 to the Baltimore Orioles in the opening game of a doubleheader. Sportsnet reported that the defeat ended the reigning American League champions' hopes of returning to October baseball, a year after they came within one victory of winning the World Series.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbRGyoRW1ts

Toronto had entered the day needing to win all its remaining games and have either the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians lose every remaining game, according to Sportsnet. The defeat left the Blue Jays with four games to play, beginning with Wednesday's second meeting with Baltimore, before a season-ending home series against Cincinnati.

Baltimore built its advantage in two stages. As The Baltimore Sun reported, Jeremiah Jackson singled home Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the second inning, then deliberately became caught in a rundown that allowed Colton Cowser to score from third. Pete Alonso added a two-run home run in the fifth, his 41st of the season, to extend the lead to 4-0.

Max Scherzer allowed four runs on four hits across five innings for Toronto, striking out seven and walking three. According to the Associated Press, the outing was the 500th appearance and 491st start of his major league career. The 42-year-old right-hander's record fell to 3-9 as the Blue Jays dropped to 77-81.

Chris Bassitt held Toronto scoreless through five innings before leaving with two runners aboard and nobody out in the sixth. Both runners subsequently scored on Jackson's throwing error. The Baltimore Sun reported that Toronto brought the tying run to the plate with no outs in the ninth, but Andrew Kittredge finished the game with two flyouts and a strikeout.

The result left Toronto able to finish no better than .500, the AP reported, while Baltimore avoided elimination in the opener. Scherzer said he hoped to pitch again on short rest in Sunday's finale and expected to address his future in the following days. Sportsnet cautioned that another start against the Reds had not been officially decided.