Chapman hits 2 homers to lead Blue Jays past Orioles

Matt Chapman had a solo home run and a two-run homer to lift the Toronto Blue Jays over the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Friday.

George Springer's three-run homer broke the game open for Toronto (82-63) and Bo Bichette extended his hit streak to nine games.

Relief pitcher Trevor Richards served as the so-called opener for the game in Toronto, striking out all three batters he faced in the first inning.

Julian Merryweather pitched two scoreless innings before Yusei Kikuchi (5-7) took the mound for two innings, giving up two runs. Tim Mayza, Adam Cimber, Anthony Bass pitched shutout ball until the ninth where Yimi Garcia gave up a run.

Jordan Lyles (10-11) gave up four runs on five hits over five innings, striking out five. Joey Krehbiel and Mike Baumann came on in relief with Krehbiel giving up two more runs.

The three-game series against the Orioles could be pivotal for the Blue Jays' post-season hopes. Baltimore is chasing Toronto, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Seattle Mariners for one of the American League's three wild-card spots.

Interim Blue Jays manager John Schneider was forced to make Friday a bullpen game as Toronto played six games in five days. That plan was complicated when Richards gave up five runs on 29 pitches in just 2/3 of an inning in the Blue Jays' 11-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

Richards showed no ill effects from the previous night's outing, striking out Cedric Mullins, Rutschman and Anthony Santander to start the game. Santander went down swinging, whiffing on a 93.6 m.p.h. four-seam fastball.

Chapman got Toronto on the board in the second inning, launching a Lyles 93.4 m.p.h. fastball to deep left field for his first homer since Aug. 20. His 25th home run of the season had an exit velocity