Alonso's 41st HR Helps O's Eliminate Blue Jays

Pete Alonso hit his 41st home run of the season as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader at Camden Yards, eliminating the defending American League champions from the postseason race. Chris Bassitt took a shutout into the sixth, and Alonso's two-run shot in the fifth pulled him even for the AL lead in homers with Houston's Yordan Alvarez and Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero.

Both clubs entered the twin bill one loss from elimination. Toronto's loss ends a title defense that reached Game 7 of last year's World Series. The Blue Jays fell to 77-81. The best they can do now is finish .500.

Alonso's blast also kept the RBI race loud. He sits eight RBIs ahead of Alvarez for the AL lead and remains the clearest threat to spoil a Triple Crown chase down the stretch. For Orioles fans, the Polar Bear stamp was the swing that kept Birdland breathing for at least another night.

Max Scherzer (3-9) allowed four runs in five innings in the 500th appearance of his career. Bassitt (9-5) worked five-plus. Andrew Kittredge closed it for his 11th save. Baltimore still needed the nightcap and help elsewhere to stay alive, but the elimination math for Toronto was already done after game one.

Camden Yards wanted a fight from both clubs that were staring at the end. Alonso gave the Orioles the middle-of-the-order answer. The Blue Jays' October window closed in daylight of a doubleheader.

Playoff races in late September are cruel in both directions. Baltimore bought time. Toronto's defending-AL-champ season is over, and Alonso's 41st is the permanent scar on that ledger.

Alonso did not need a speech after the first game. The swing that tied him atop the AL home run board also punched Toronto's ticket out. Orioles fans who watched a messy stretch run suddenly had a midweek reason to stay loud for the nightcap and the final weekend.

Scherzer talking about a possible short-rest finale is a separate subplot. The headline for Thursday morning is simpler: the Blue Jays are done, Alonso is not, and Baltimore's October odds still hang on every remaining out.

AL board

Alonso: 41st HR, two-run shot in the fifth. Tied for AL HR lead. Eight RBIs up on Alvarez.

Result: Orioles 4, Blue Jays 2 (game 1). Toronto eliminated.

Bassitt into the sixth. Kittredge 11th save. Scherzer 500th career appearance.

Fan closer

Polar Bear ended Toronto's chase. Keep watching the Orioles' remaining nights, but the Blue Jays' October is done.