Final
O's top Blue Jays; magic number is 1
Sep 16, 2014 - 7:42 AM Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Flaherty hit a two-run homer, Adam Jones had three hits and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2, on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.The AL East-leading Orioles' magic number to clinch their first division title since 1997 is now one with 12 games remaining. They can wrap it up on Tuesday.
"I've lost a lot of sleep since I've been here for different reasons," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter, "but tonight I look forward to losing that sleep."
Wei-Yin Chen (16-4) pitched 5 2/3 innings and remained unbeaten in his last seven starts. The left-hander gave up nine hits, two runs and a walk and struck out six.
The Orioles have won eight of their last nine, are 11-4 this month and lead the division by 12 1/2 games.
Jose Reyes had three hits and scored two runs for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of their last four. Marcus Stroman (10-6) took the loss after giving up five runs in six innings.
"Both teams had a lot of hits; we didn't get any with guys in scoring position, really, all night," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
Reyes, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion hit consecutive singles off Chen to start the game, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead. Jones' RBI infield single highlighted a two-run bottom of the first inning that gave Baltimore the lead for good.
Jones singled in the third inning, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Nelson Cruz's hit and Flaherty's seventh homer of the season in the fourth made it 5-1.
Reyes scored his second run on Danny Valencia's single after leading off the fifth with a hit, pulling the Blue Jays within 5-2.
Both benches were warned after Stroman threw a pitch behind Caleb Joseph in the sixth inning, apparently in retaliation for the Orioles catcher nicking Reyes' hand with his cleat on Reyes' slide.
Zach Britton picked up his 35th save for Baltimore, but not without a little bit of drama. He pitched around a single by Reyes and a walk to Bautista, getting a key force play at second base that was upheld upon review.
Game Notes
Chen is 4-0 in his last seven starts and the Orioles are 5-2 in those games ... Toronto stranded 11 men on base and was 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
- TORONTO: 2
BALTIMORE: 5
Final
Sep 15 10:21 PM - Danny Valencia singled to left scoring Jose Reyes with two outs. Runner on first and Dioner Navarro due up.
Blue Jays 2, Orioles 5 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 15 8:48 PM - Danny Valencia singles to left field. Jose Reyes scores.
Blue Jays 2, Orioles 5 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 15 8:47 PM - Ryan Flaherty none-out, two-run Home Run (7) to right scoring Kelly Johnson. Caleb Joseph due up.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 5 Bot 4, 0 OutsSep 15 8:33 PM - Ryan Flaherty homers to right field. Kelly Johnson scores.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 5 Bot 4, 0 OutsSep 15 8:33 PM - Nelson Cruz singled to right scoring Adam Jones with two outs. Runner on first and Steve Pearce due up.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsSep 15 8:09 PM - Nelson Cruz singles to right center field. Adam Jones scores.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsSep 15 8:08 PM - Nelson Cruz grounded into a double play, second to first scoring Alejandro De Aza with two outs. Adam Jones out at second. None on with two outs and Steve Pearce due up.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 2 Bot 1, 2 OutsSep 15 7:35 PM - Nelson Cruz grounds out to second base. Adam Jones out at second. Alejandro De Aza scores.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 2 Bot 1, 0 OutsSep 15 7:35 PM - Adam Jones singled to third scoring Nick Markakis with none out. On the play, Alejandro De Aza advances to third. Runners on first and third and Nelson Cruz due up.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsSep 15 7:32 PM - Adam Jones singles to shallow infield. Alejandro De Aza to third. Nick Markakis scores.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsSep 15 7:31 PM - Edwin Encarnacion singled to left scoring Jose Reyes with none out. On the play, Jose Bautista advances to third. Runners on first and third and Danny Valencia due up.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 0 Top 1, 0 OutsSep 15 7:17 PM - Edwin Encarnacion singles to left center field. Jose Bautista to third. Jose Reyes scores.
Blue Jays 1, Orioles 0 Top 1, 0 OutsSep 15 7:17 PM - Jose Reyes singles to shallow left field.
Sep 15 7:09 PM - TORONTO: 0
BALTIMORE: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 15 7:08 PM
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