Right-hander Dean Kremer pitched seven strong innings, Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman hit back-to-back homers and the visiting Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 Tuesday night.

The Orioles have won the first two games of the three-game series and are 4-0 against the Blue Jays over the past nine days.

Rutschman and Ramon Urias each contributed two hits for Baltimore, which climbed within a half-game of Toronto for the third and final American League wild-card spot.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run home run for the Blue Jays, who have lost three in a row and six of the past seven. Toronto’s Santiago Espinal added three hits.

Kremer (5-4) allowed two runs, seven hits and one walk while striking out six. He had lost three of his previous four starts.

Baltimore’s Dillon Tate threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Felix Bautista pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to earn his seventh save.

Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah (12-6) gave up four runs on four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Toronto’s George Springer started the bottom of the first with an infield single, and Guerrero followed with his 25th home run of the season.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the third, but Matt Chapman grounded into a double play.

Mullins hit his 11th home run of the season with two outs in the fifth, a solo shot, and Rutschman followed with his seventh homer to tie the game 2-2.

Baltimore’s Terrin Vavra walked with one out in the sixth, took second on Rougned Odor’s groundout and scored on a single by Ramon Urias, who took second on a bobble by center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Jorge Mateo walked, and Anthony Bass replaced Manoah. Ryan McKenna greeted Bass with an RBI single to right.

The series finale is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

–Field Level Media