The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 in game two of their three-game weekend set, in a contest defined by one standout performer. Ernie Clement turned in a complete display with the bat, on the bases and in the field, carrying Toronto to the win in front of their home crowd.
The game was level early. In the bottom of the second, Kazuma Okamoto came through with a base hit to left field, driving in a run, his team-leading 36th of the year, to make it one apiece and settle the hosts after an even start.
Clement then broke the game open in the bottom of the third. With two outs, he drove a deep ball to left for a three-run home run that put the Blue Jays in front 4-1 as part of a four-run frame that pushed the lead to 5-1. The blow was all the more notable given Toronto had entered the day with the worst mark in baseball when batting with two outs and runners in scoring position, a .185 average.
He was not finished there. In the bottom of the fifth, Clement sent another ball deep, this one off the wall, and hustled all the way to third for his first triple of the season. He would later come around to score, stretching the Blue Jays' advantage to 6-1 and giving Toronto a comfortable cushion.
The Orioles refused to fade, battling back to make it a 6-4 game and putting the result back in some doubt. But Clement answered again, this time with his glove, producing a diving stop and throwing out a runner at first for what was described as the defensive play of the game, a moment that saved a run in the eighth inning.
Afterwards, pitcher Tyler Rogers thanked his second baseman for the assist as the Blue Jays held on to take game two 6-4. Clement said he felt good about his defence, something he had been working at, adding that he takes pride in picking up the team's pitchers when they give up hard contact and was glad to be able to help them out on the day.