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Lawrie's HR leads Jays past O's

Sep 1, 2011 - 10:39 PM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Brett Lawrie went 3-for-5 and hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, as the Toronto Blue Jays snuck past the Baltimore Orioles, 8-6, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Kelly Johnson hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who have won three of four. Yunel Escobar went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

Toronto starter Luis Perez gave up five runs on six hits over five-plus innings. He struck out six and walked three. Shawn Camp (2-3) recorded the final two outs in the seventh to pick up the win.

Vladimir Guerrero went 3-for-4 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored for the Orioles, who have dropped four of five. Matt Wieters hit a solo homer and drove in two runs.

Tommy Hunter allowed six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits over six innings for Baltimore. Willie Eyre (1-1) gave up Lawrie's homer to take the loss.

Hunter was taken to a nearby hospital following his outing due to an unknown illness. O's manager Buck Showalter said Hunter was vomiting after leaving the game.

Wieters doubled in Guerrero in the second inning to give the Orioles an early 1-0 lead.

The Blue Jays responded with two runs in the third to go in front. Mike McCoy walked and Escobar doubled to start the frame. Eric Thames' RBI groundout and Jose Bautista's run-scoring single made it 2-1.

Toronto tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Lawrie hit a one-out double to right and crossed the plate on J.P. Arencibia's double to left. Escobar knocked in Arencibia with a two-out single, making it 4-1.

Guerrero and Wieters hit back-to-back solo homers in the home fourth to make it a one-run game.

The Blue Jays created some distance again with a two-run sixth. Johnson led off with a homer to right-center field. With two outs, McCoy reached first on third baseman Robert Andino's fielding error. Escobar followed with an RBI double.

The O's came right back in the home sixth. Nick Markakis and Adam Jones worked back-to-back walks to begin the inning. Guerrero stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with a double to right-center field, cutting the gap to 6-5.

Guerrero then tied the game in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Guerrero hit an RBI groundout to make it 6-6. Wieters flied out to end the frame.

The Blue Jays took the lead for good in the eighth. Johnson walked and scored on Lawrie's blast to left for an 8-6 edge.

"It looked like an alright pitch, he just got to it," Eyre said.

Jon Rauch came off the DL before the game and pitched a scoreless eighth. Frank Francisco shut down the O's in the ninth to pick up his 12th save of the season.

Game Notes

Toronto leads the season series with Baltimore, 9-6...The Orioles selected the contracts of pitcher Rick VandenHurk and outfielder Kyle Hudson from Triple-A Norfolk. VandenHurk pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings...Rauch had been on the disabled list with appendicitis...Hunter won't travel with the team to Tampa Bay.