COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) -Minor leaguer Brian Bock hit a double and two home runs, including the first grand slam he could remember, to lead the Baltimore Orioles over the Toronto Blue Jays 13-7 Monday in the annual Hall of Fame Game.
In the home run derby prior to the game, Toronto’s Vernon Wells outlasted teammate Alex Rios in sudden-death overtime.
The 61st edition of the game was the lone in-season exhibition in the majors. The event at Doubleday Field used to coincide with the Hall’s induction weekend, but it became tougher to teams to play then.
Baltimore and Toronto, separated by a half-game in the AL East, begin a three-game series at Camden Yards on Tuesday night.
Aubrey Huff hit one of Baltimore’s five home runs before a sellout crowd of 9,791.
Baltimore built a 5-0 lead, and after the Blue Jays pulled within 6-5 in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by Howie Clark, Bock struck for the second time in two innings.
Chris Gomez, Gera Alvarez and Pete Maestrales singled off Toronto reliever Ben Harrison to load the bases and Bock hit a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left.
Bock was picked as MVP of the game just hours after learning he would start at catcher. He’s hit just one home run in eight games for the Frederick Keys of the Class A Carolina League.
“It’s certainly something I didn’t expect. I don’t think I ever hit a grand slam,” said Bock, who has been up and down in the minors since being drafted in the 14th round in 2003 by Baltimore. “I’m just trying to show the coaching staff that I can play, just bouncing around, wherever they need me.”
Balbino Fuenmayor hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays in the eighth and Maestrales added a solo shot in the bottom half.
After right-hander Scott Williamson retired the Blue Jays on four pitches in the top of the first, the Orioles struck quickly against Toronto starter Tomo Ohka.
Brian Roberts led off the bottom of the first with an infield single, and after Miguel Tejada grounded a one-out single, Huff homered far over the stands in right field.
The Orioles scored twice in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Jonathan Tucker and a single by Jake Duncan to take a 5-0 lead.
John-Ford Griffin of Toronto’s Triple-A Syracuse affiliate hit a three-run homer that made it 5-3.
Bock homered in the sixth and Blake Davis added a two-run homer in the seventh.
Brandon Erbe allowed two earned runs over four innings to get the win. Ohka was the losing pitcher.
In the home run derby, Wells and Rios each hit six homers in 10 swings in the first round to tie Baltimore’s Jay Gibbons. Toronto’s Lyle Overbay and Baltimore’s Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora were eliminated.
Wells eventually won with a drive over the trees beyond the fence in left-center.
Notes: Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci played right field for the Blue Jays for the final five innings. He struck out swinging to lead off the sixth.
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