Gibson
By DAVID GINSBURG
Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) — During a who-can-believe-it season featuring a slew of unexpected victories and a stunning rise to the top of the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles are making believers out of their rivals and adding to their list of accomplishments almost every single day.
Getting home runs from Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins, Baltimore maintained its two-game lead in the AL East by beating longtime nemesis José Berríos and the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Thursday night.
“This has been so much fun,” starter and Greenfield native Kyle Gibson said. “We’re celebrating every single victory.”
Gibson (13-7) gave up three runs and six hits over eight innings, the longest stint by an Orioles starter this year. He went 3-0 against Toronto this season.
Félix Bautista got three straight outs for his 33rd save in 39 chances.
After the start of the game was delayed by rain for 1 hour, 15 minutes, Gibson and Berríos each retired their first nine batters.
Knowing that second-place Tampa Bay won earlier in the day, the Orioles overcame an early two-run deficit to extend their season-long mastery of Toronto and defeat Berríos (9-9) for the first time. The right-hander came in 10-0 against Baltimore, including 6-0 at Camden Yards, but on this night he allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings.
The Orioles took two of three from the Blue Jays and won the season series 10-3. The victory lifted Baltimore 31 games over .500 at 79-48 for the first time since Sept. 25, 2014.
The 13 wins for Gibson is tied for most in the American League and just one off the most in the majors. Zac Gallen (Arizona), Justin Steele (Chicago Cubs), and Spencer Strider (Atlanta), all National League pitchers have 14 wins. Gibson is fourth overall with Zach Eflin (Tampa Bay), Taijuan Walker (Philadelphia) and Charlie Morton (Atlanta).
Gibson, along with Gallen and Miles Mikolas (St. Louis) lead the majors with 27 starts.
The 35-year old right-hander and 2006 Greenfield-Central High School grad is scheduled to start Wednesday, Aug. 30, in Baltimore, against the Chicago White Sox. Game time is 1:05 p.m. Dylan Cease is scheduled to to be the starter for the White Sox.
