By Jay Blue

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays anointed Wednesday starter Marcus Stroman as their pitcher for Opening Day and he didn't disappoint but the relief corps couldn't hold back the Orioles' onslaught in a 6-4 loss.

Stroman worked into the fifth inning, giving up just one run after hitting the first batter in the fifth, striking the next one out and giving up two singles before he was pulled from the game. He finished with just one run allowing on only two hits after starting the game with four no-hit innings. He didn't walk anyone and struck out six in another dominant effort.

Javy Guerra worked the rest of the fifth, getting a double play from the only batter he faced, but Sean Reid-Foley, working two innings, gave up two runs on two hits and a walk despite striking out four. David Paulino couldn't get an out, allowing two hits and two walks, leaving the bases loaded for Danny Barnes in the eighth, who allowed two of those runners to score, giving up a hit and striking out one. Paulino was ultimately charged with three runs, bloating his spring ERA to 9.00.

Eric Sogard drove in two runs with a double, going 1/2 with a walk and two RBI in the Blue Jays' three-run second inning. Richard Urena followed with a single scoring Sogard right after. The Jays wouldn't score again until Billy McKinney hit a ground ball single scoring Bo Bichette in the fifth. Bichette was 2/5 with a run and a stolen base while Rowdy Tellez had another two hits, going 2/3 with a run. Jonathan Davis was 2/4 and Richard Urena was 1/4. Danny Jansen was 1/3.

The Blue Jays stay home on Thursday, facing the New York Yankees with Matt Shoemaker on the hill.

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