Stewart's career day leads O's to victory

BALTIMORE -- After going hitless in his first 13 Major League at-bats, DJ Stewart is feeling a lot more comfortable at the plate.
The Orioles' top pick in the 2015 draft followed up his first Major League hit on Tuesday with his first career home run and double on Wednesday that paved the way for the Orioles' 2-1 win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.
In the third inning, Stewart led off with a long fly ball against Marco Estrada to right that hit the top of the foul pole for the home run, then hit a seventh-inning double and came around to score on Cedric Mullins' single.

"I wasn't really pressing, but it's always a relief when you can get the first one out of the way," Stewart said. "To come out here to have that confidence going into the game that you're still feeling really well and then going over the wall, that's got to give you more confidence."
Stewart wasn't even sure the ball was gone.
"It was a little close there," Stewart said. "[First-base coach Wayne Kirby] was running down the line trying to will it fair. I was doing the same, but once I saw it hit off the foul pole, it kind of sunk in that I did it. We did it. It was a lot less stressful than the Little League home run."
Five Orioles pitchers combined for the victory. Jimmy Yacabonis started and threw four innings, allowing just two hits. Mike Wright Jr. pitched two innings of one-hit ball. Miguel Castro allowed a solo homer to Billy McKinney in his 1 2/3 frames. Tanner Scott retired the only batter he faced, and Mychal Givens worked the ninth for his eighth save.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth against Yacabonis, but Kendrys Morales flied out to Adam Jones in right. McKinney tagged up and dashed home, but Jones' throw was in time and Austin Wynns reached across the plate to nab McKinney. Aledmys Díaz flied out in the ensuing at-bat to end the scoring threat.
"[Jones] had his momentum coming to us and saw the flight of it," Wynns said. "I thought I had more time, so I took a step back, and it was bang-bang. It was a great throw by Adam."
SOUND SMART
Jones' assist was the 99th of his career, but his first since moving to right field on Aug. 10.

HE SAID IT
"I still feel elated after we win a game, and then I think about all the good things that went on, especially defensively tonight." -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter
UP NEXT
Yefry Ramirez will start for the second time against the Yankees on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. Ramirez, who was sent from the New York to the Orioles in 2017, is 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in three appearances. On Aug. 26, he pitched three scoreless innings in relief against the Yankees, allowing just one hit. Ramirez will be opposed by CC Sabathia.