Gibson
TORONTO (AP) —Greenfield’s Kyle Gibson pitched six solid innings and picked up his 10th win of the season in the Baltimore Orioles’ 4-2 win at Toronto Monday.
Gibson, the 35-year right-hander in his first season with the O’s, gave up just four hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out five.
Austin Hays made a leaping, game-saving catch of Whit Merrifield’s liner in the ninth inning, and the AL-best Orioles remained unbeaten at Toronto this season.
Orioles closer Félix Bautista walked two with one out in the ninth before Merrifield lined a 99 mph fastball to left-center. Left fielder Hays sprinted toward the ball, left his feet and grabbed it just before he hit the turf. Bautista then struck out Santiago Espinal to complete the five-out save, his 29th in 34 opportunities.
Espinal had come on in the third to replace Blue Jays shortstop and AL batting leader Bo Bichette, who departed with a sore right knee.
Gunnar Henderson homered for Baltimore, which swept a three-game series at third-place Toronto in May. Ryan Mountcastle doubled twice and drove in three runs as the Orioles maintained their 1 1/2-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East.
A 2006 Greenfield-Central High School grad, Gibson threw 97 pitches. He left after walking Matt Chapman to begin the seventh. Left-hander Danny Coulombe came on and walked Daulton Varsho on four pitches but recovered by getting Alejandro Kirk to pop up, then striking out pinch-hitter Jordan Luplow and Kevin Kiermaier.
Gibson (10-6) picked up a win for the first time in four starts. He became just the sixth American League pitcher, and 14th in the major leagues, to reach double figures in wins this season. He is tied for the major league lead in starts with 23.
The Greenfield native’s next scheduled start is Saturday, in Baltimore, against the New York Mets. Gibson will be going up against Justin Verlander. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)
