Billy McKinney Gets First Career Homer to Help Jays beat Orioles 8-2

The Toronto Blue Jays were on a mission it seemed in the fifth inning. Kendrys Morales, Justin Smoak and Billy McKinney stepped up to the plate and drove in home runs as the Jays defeated the Orioles on Tuesday night.

Joining the list of Jays scoring homers was Aledmys Diaz. The Jays have now was back-to-back games and are 57-69 for the season. Billy McKinney added an RBI scoring three runs for the Jays last night at the Rogers Center in Toronto as over 25,000 fans cheered in celebration. Sam Gaviglio allowed two runs and six hits and had a solid night going seven innings before relief pitchers Justin Shafer and Jake Petricka were called to the mound.

Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins hit a homer, but this was little effort to help the Orioles who, at 37-89, continue to struggle this season. Pitcher Dylan Bundy gave up ten hits and seven runs in four innings before being pulled from the mound. Mullins was relieved by Ryan Meisinger, Cody Carroll and Tanner Scott. Mullins gave up one run while Carroll and Scott pitched three scoreless innings.

Curtis Granderson hit a double before Kendrys Morales hit a single to give the Jays their first run. The Baltimore Orioles managed to get the bases loaded in the second innings scoring their first run to tie the game. The next inning Aledmys Diaz sent the ball past the outfield fence to give Toronto the lead.

In the fourth, McKinney sent a single to the right field that allowed Kevin Pillar and Kendrys Morales to score to put the Jays up 4-1. McKinney also managed to score again last in the fourth after Renato Nunez, who plays third base for the Orioles, thought a hit by Luke Maile was an error and that allowed McKinney to make it to home plate.

The boys found the baseball.
He found a perfect spot on the mantle.

Congrats on your first career homer, @billy_mckinney! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VD0gRb0Xic

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 22, 2018

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Justin Smoak was first up to bat in the fifth scoring his 19th home run of the season, and following Smoak, Morales hit his own homer to earn his 17th, and that saw Mullins calling it a day as the Jays went out in front 7-2.

Meisinger was then brought in from the bullpen, and it was only two batters up before Billy McKinney scored his first homer in the big leagues. McKinney’s teammates decided to give him a hard time not congratulating him in what saw McKinney pretending to accept high fives until the others joined in on his celebration.

Saturday was McKinney’s first game with the Jays. He began his MLB career with the Yankees before being traded to Toronto in a deal in July that included Brandon Drury for pitcher J.A. Happ. For MLB punters, McKinney is proving to be a valuable asset for the Blue Jays and will see sports betting sites favourable to Canadians sports bettors releasing increased odds as the Jays continue to push forward this season. One of our favoured sports betting sites is bet365, they offer a full range of sports including baseball and include a wide range of promotions including a sign-up bonus worth up to $200 – register today and capitalise on this generous offer while still available.