James McCann earns legend status as Orioles earn gritty win in Zach Eflin's debut

The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays met in a Monday matinee after their game from May 14 was rained out. The newly acquired Zach Eflin was able to make his team debut as the starter for the O's in the first game. Eflin earned the win in his Orioles debut, but not without a little help from his new friends.

Eflin worked a scoreless first inning, stranding two runners on base while picking up two strikeouts. The Orioles offense took over in the bottom of the inning and scored four runs to give Eflin a nice cushion. The O's offense showed more patience and loaded the bases with no outs when the first three batters walked. Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias drove in the first three runs of the game with a single, a fielder's choice and a bases loaded walk.

James McCann came to bat with the bases still loaded and got the most painful RBI of his life. McCann was hit directly in the nose by a 94.6mph fastball and he immediately went down. As the trainers rushed to his aid, a steady stream of blood could be seen running from McCann's nose. Thanks to a significant injury delay, the Orioles training staff was able to get McCann's bleeding under control and he was able to remain in the game once he got a clean jersey since his original jersey was covered in blood.

Eflin was solid in his first outing as an Oriole and gave a quality start. His lone blemish on the day was a fifth inning three run homer from Blue Jays rookie Addison Barger, the first of his career. Eflin did allow 10 hits but he also struck out seven batters. He pitched well enough to earn the victory and should be a key member of the Orioles rotation down the stretch.

The Orioles offense rallied around McCann and scored seven more runs, including Anthony Santander's team leading 30th home run of the season, on their way to an 11-5 victory of their division rival.

McCann looked like Rocky Balboa at the end of a title fight, but that didn't stop him. He likely has a broken nose, but finished the game while barely being able to keep his left eye open in an inspirational effort. Hopefully that effort will help kickstart the Orioles and help drive them as look to get back to the World Series.