Jays down O's, close in on clinching top wild card

Jose Berrios pitched six strong innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered as the Toronto Blue Jays moved closer to claiming the top American League wild-card spot by defeating the host Baltimore Orioles 5-1 in a rain-shortened game on Monday. The Blue Jays (91-69) reduced the magic number on Seattle (87-71) for the top-seeded wild card spot to one game with two games to play. They would seal that top position if the Mariners lose later Monday night to the Detroit Tigers. Whit Merrifield went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run to lead the Toronto offense. He was set to come to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth inning when the game was halted. Play never resumed, as the contest was called after a 55-minute delay. Berrios (12-7) stopped a personal two-game losing streak. His last three victories have come against Baltimore. Berrios allowed one run on three hits and three walks while fanning five. Tim Mayza worked a perfect seventh and was credited with his second save of the season as the Blue Jays extended their winning streak to four games. The Orioles (82-78) secured a winning record during the weekend, but they also were eliminated from playoff contention. They have lost seven of their past 10 games. Baltimore starter Dean Kremer (8-7) gave up four runs, three earned, in six innings. He yielded six hits and a walk while fanning four. Merrifield rapped a two-run single in the second inning to open the scoring. Guerrero's solo shot in the third inning was his 32nd long ball of the season and just his second homer in an 11-game stretch. Whitfield scored on Kremer's wild pitch in the fifth inning. Baltimore scored on Anthony Santander's sacrifice fly in the third inning. Teoscar Hernandez and Raimel Tapia both had two hits for Toronto. The Orioles managed just three hits, all singles. One of them came from rookie Adley Rutschman, who also drew two walks. --Field Level Media