Westburg homers twice, Bautista returns in Orioles' 9-5 win (updated)

TORONTO – The power flickered and came back on at Rogers Centre.

The Orioles hit six home runs on Opening Day, only one last night and two in the top of the first inning today against future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer that went a combined 851 feet. Held to three hits last night, they doubled that total by the fourth – five for extra bases.

A two-run lead was lost again but returned to them, and Jordan Westburg registered his first career multi-homer game in a 9-5 victory over the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 27,005.

Used in a non-save situation, Félix Bautista allowed a one-out double to Bo Bichette, walked Anthony Santander with two outs and struck out three with his splitter in a scoreless ninth in his first game since Aug. 25, 2023, and the Orioles can do no worse than split their first series.

“That was so exciting for all of us," said manager Brandon Hyde. "All the people in this room know what he’s gone through and how he was itching to be a part of our team last year so badly and unable to do that. I was hoping for a situation that was as low-pressure as possible. Maybe a three-run lead with the bottom of the order. But it worked out and great to see him out there. Everybody was pumped up that he was coming into the game.

"I really wanted to pitch him today, but if it was a large lead from either side, probably not. But I wanted to pitch him today.”

Bautista, an All-Star in 2023 before blowing out his elbow, was put on hold long enough. 

"Good, excellent," he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. "I was really waiting for this game. I was really happy I was able to go out there today and contribute and help the team win. 

"I was waiting for my chance, waiting for my opportunity, just waiting for whenever my name was called. You know, I continued to support the guys and stay in-tuned with what’s happening in the game, but yeah, I’m happy when we score that many runs. And you know, even though when we do I’m just waiting for them to call my name whenever I’m needed."

The fastball topped at 97.9 mph, but he got four swings-and-misses among his six splitters.

"I felt a lot looser today," he said. "I think the adrenaline definitely helped. I think playing in a game that counts as you guys mentioned definitely helped me today, but I did feel really good with it."

The game spun in the Orioles' favor in the fourth without a home run.

Reliever Richard Lovelady filled the bases by allowing a leadoff double to Ryan O’Hearn and drilling Cedric Mullins and Heston Kjerstad back-to-back with one out. Gary Sánchez’s sacrifice fly reduced the Blue Jays’ lead to 4-3, Jackson Holliday walked and Ramón Urías delivered a three-run double to right field at 106.4 mph off the bat.

“Ramón got the hit of the game for us," Hyde said. "That was in a big spot, and we did a really good job off their bullpen. Swung the bat well early and then a really good job off their bullpen being able to add on runs. And Ramón got a huge hit for us after we had a tough inning on the mound.”

Two more runs scored in the fifth on Cedric Mullins’ single that raised his RBI total to six and Heston Kjerstad’s sacrifice fly.

"I’ve got all the confidence in the world in this lineup," said Dean Kremer. "Again, from top to bottom, they’re solid. Through and through, it’s a hard lineup to pitch to. There’s really no breaks. There’s no holes in the lineup. There’s no nothing. So for a pitcher, it’s a grind to get through one through nine.”

The flexing started in the first when Colton Cowser belted his third career leadoff homer after being hitless in the first two games. He sent a 91.6 mph fastball 417 feet to center field at 110.6 mph off the bat. Westburg homered with two outs, a Scherzer slider traveling 434 feet to left-center field at 109.7 mph.

It could have been a two-run shot except O’Hearn reached on an infield hit, turned to his left after running through the bag and was thrown out. The play originally was scored as a 3-1-2-1 putout, but O’Hearn later was credited with a single.

Westburg cleared the center field fence and Nathan Lukes’ glove by inches in the seventh for a 9-5 lead. He looked back at Lukes while approaching second base to make sure it wasn’t an out.

"From my angle, it looked like it went right into his glove, so I thought he had caught it," Westburg said. "And then I was trying to look around for the umpires. I didn’t see much, so I just kept running.”

The three home runs raised the total to a club-record 10 in the first three games. The previous mark was seven.

"I think one through nine, plus the four guys on the bench, are all capable of impacting the game in unique and powerful ways in this offense," Westburg said. "So it’s something we’re proud of, something we’ll continue to build upon and get comfortable with.”

Westburg can't really explain his early home run binge.

"It’s just happening," he said. "Trying not to do too much up there. I’ve noticed some of my swings have been a little big, so in an attempt to shorten up, sometimes you just run into some balls. So, we’ll see if it keeps happening. I don’t know if this pace is sustainable, but I’m just going to try to keep taking good approaches to the plate and moving the ball.”

Westburg, who missed almost two months last season with a fractured right hand, reached on an infield single in the ninth to tie his career high with four hits.

“Incredible," Hyde said. "He’s just a ballplayer. He plays his butt off every game he’s playing, plays two positions for us, gets huge hits, hits right and left, drives the baseball.”

Scherzer, hindered in spring training by a thumb injury, was removed after three innings and 45 pitches due to right lat soreness. He retired the last seven batters after Westburg’s homer.

This is around the time that the game fell apart for the Jays. Lovelady was dangerously wild and Jacob Barnes created his own mess in the fifth, increasing the bullpen’s run total to six. Chad Green made it seven on Westburg’s second homer.

Kremer allowed five runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. He surrendered a tie-breaking two-run homer to Andrés Giménez in the third but worked into the sixth and retired eight of his last 10.

“Stuff felt pretty good all day," he said. "Threw a lot of strikes. Made a couple too many in-zone pitches with two strikes maybe early on, but other than that, I’m pretty happy with where my starting point is.”

Kremer got two strikes on the first three batters in the first inning and gave up singles, with former teammate Santander collecting an RBI. Both runners advanced on Cowser’s throw back to the infield after he chased down Giménez’s fly ball in the left field corner, and Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly tied the game.

Giménez clobbered a fastball over the plate after Kremer walked Bichette, who reached base five times, and struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Santander. Guerrero singled in the first and was 11-for-29 lifetime against Kremer.

Guerrero’s ground ball in the fifth scored Lukes after a leadoff walk, Bichette single and wild pitch.

Keegan Akin got the last two outs in the sixth and Yennier Cano stranded a runner in the seventh and struck out two. Gregory Soto, working back-to-back days, was removed in the eighth after a walk, strikeout and walk, and Seranthony Domínguez retired both batters he faced.

The rest of the game was played in Mountain Time.

“It’s exciting," Cano said via Quinones. "I was in the gym when I saw him come out. I was like, ‘wow, it’s incredible.' I got goosebumps watching him run on to the field. It was needed. It was needed for him to get on to the field and feel what it’s like again and have an outing. It was super nice to see.

"He’s (been) very relaxed the entire time. He’s joking around with us. Even in the bullpen, it’s the same thing. No anxiety with him. He was very calm the entire time and very relaxed.”

“Super exciting," Westburg said. "It’s good to have the big man back, shutting down games in the ninth inning. Pretty clean inning out of him overall, and we’re excited to have him back.”

Bautista worked out, walked to his locker and did his interview, finally on a topic of his liking. He didn't have time to fully digest his accomplishment. He hadn't even consumed a meal.

“Not yet," he said. "I think it all happened so fast, getting into the game, playing and then getting ready to hit the gym after my outing. So I'm sure once I get to the hotel and once I have a chance to relax and cool down, then I'll be able to reflect on it.”

* The Orioles acquired right-hander Cody Poteet from the Cubs today for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. The 40-man roster has 39 players.

Poteet, 30, has a 3.80 ERA in 24 career games (13 starts) with the Marlins and Yankees. He appeared in five games with New York last season, including four starts, and registered a 2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 innings.

* The Orioles will celebrate Sweet 16 berths from the Maryland men’s and women’s basketball teams by having four players simultaneously throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Monday’s home opening day.

Baltimore natives Derik Queen and Julian Reese will represent the men, and Maryland native Allie Kubek and senior star Shyanne Sellers will represent the women. Queen and Sellers will also serve as the first guest splashers in the expanded Bird Bath.

Queen hit the buzzer-beater against Colorado State that advanced the Terps to the Sweet 16. Queen was asked in his postgame interview where his confidence came from and he replied, “I’m from Baltimore, that’s why.”

This year marked the first time that the men and women made the Sweet 16 in the same season. The men lost to Florida and the women to South Carolina.

* Hyde said everything went well in Gunnar Henderson’s first game with Triple-A Norfolk. Henderson is leading off and playing shortstop again tonight.