Jackson Holliday made a triumphant return to the Major Leagues, hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning. The home run, a 439-foot blast, marked his first career home run and played a crucial role in the Baltimore Orioles' 10-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Holliday Overcomes Setbacks
Holliday, who was the first pick in the 2022 draft and is currently the top-ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, had previously struggled with a 2-hit performance in 34 at-bats, including 18 strikeouts, which led to his temporary demotion earlier in the season.
Reflecting on his past difficulties, Holliday mentioned, "I just try to keep it simple. The last time I was here, I found myself trying to do a little too much."
In his first game back, Holliday was retired twice before his crucial grand slam, which gave the Orioles an 8-3 lead. The Orioles' victory was bolstered by contributions from several players.
Colton Cowser added offensive punch to the team with a home run. Ryan Mountcastle started the scoring for Baltimore with a two-run triple in the first inning, setting the pace for the game. In the second inning, Cowser's home run extended the lead to 3-0.
Gunnar Henderson's opening triple in the third inning, followed by Ryan O'Hearn's sacrifice fly, helped the Orioles maintain their lead. Despite committing two errors at shortstop, bringing his total to seven in his last seven games, Henderson reached base three times and also connected on a go-ahead single in the seventh inning.
The Orioles faced a setback when All-Star third baseman Jordan Westburg was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken hand just before Holliday's grand slam.
Tile Performance
On the Toronto Blue Jays side, Addison Barger was a standout player, hitting a solo home run in the third inning and a driving double in the fourth inning, contributing significantly to Toronto's offense.
George Springer hit a double and scored on a grounder by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to bring the Blue Jays within 4-3 of the Orioles at one point.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider commented on Holliday's performance, noting that they had observed his potential during spring training where Holliday had also hit a pair of home runs. Schneider acknowledged Holliday's challenging start, but emphasized his recognition as the No. 1 prospect for a reason.
Pitching highlights included Grayson Rodriguez, who turned in a solid performance for the Orioles by allowing three clean runs and six hits in six innings, demonstrating his pitching prowess by striking out eight batters and awarding three walks.
Paolo Espino, pitching for the Blue Jays, allowed four runs and five hits in his four innings on the mound, finishing the game with a 0-1 record. Reliever Yerry Rodriguez struggled in the fifth inning, allowing five runs, including Holliday's grand slam, after loading the bases with one out.
JACKSON HOLLIDAY!
His first big league homer is a grand slam! pic.twitter.com/UhYSrT2MiQ
- MLB (@MLB) July 31, 2024
Next Injuries and Series
During the game, Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho was removed after feeling dizzy on a particularly hot day, highlighting the challenging conditions faced by the players.
Orioles catcher James McCann, who had been hit in the face by a pitch in an earlier game Monday, played the entire game Wednesday. He wore protection while batting, showing toughness and dedication.
Looking ahead, Toronto will have an off day on Thursday before beginning an away series against the New York Yankees on Friday night. Kevin Gausman, with a 9-8 record, is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays, facing Marcus Stroman, who has a 7-5 record.
Baltimore will begin a four-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, continuing their season with a solid performance.
