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Blue Jays use long balls to down Orioles

Apr 23, 2015 - 4:21 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Smoak and Devon Travis each hit two- run homers to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

After Baltimore took the lead on Jimmy Paredes' two-run homer in the third, Smoak's first of the season tied the game in the fourth, and Travis, who missed Tuesday's game with rib soreness, put the Blue Jays in front an inning later.

Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1) gave up both homers. After retiring six of the first seven he faced, Jimenez began to struggle and finished with four runs allowed on six hits and three walks in five innings.

Aaron Sanchez (1-2) did not fare much better but was able to work out of trouble. He only allowed two hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings, but walked seven batters.

"It was a battle for him, especially early," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "Even though he walked those guys, I thought he looked more confident."

The Orioles had chances to pile on Sanchez early but could not take advantage. Sanchez induced inning-ending double plays in each of the first two frames. After Paredes' opposite-field home run with two outs in the third, Baltimore put two more runners on base but could not do any additional damage.

Sanchez then retired seven straight before issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth.

While Sanchez began settling in, Jimenez unraveled. Edwin Encarnacion led off the fourth with a walk before Smoak hit his first home run as a Blue Jay. Jimenez walked the next two batters but got a ground-ball double play off the bat of Kevin Pillar to help avoid further trouble.

An inning later, the leadoff batter again reached base for Toronto when Jose Reyes singled. Travis then hit his fourth home run of his rookie season to put the Blue Jays up 4-2.

Baltimore had its best chance to get back in the game in the sixth. Sanchez departed after walking two more batters, and Manny Machado's single off Roberto Osuna loaded the bases with one out. Ryan Flaherty then popped out on the first pitch before Caleb Joseph struck out to end the inning.

"We didn't take advantage of the walks," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

The Orioles' half of the seventh ended with Alejandro De Aza being thrown out attempting to steal third with Chris Davis at the plate.

After recording the final out of the eighth, Miguel Castro stayed in the game to finish the save. Machado doubled and Flaherty walked, but Joseph then struck out without moving the runners into scoring position. Pinch hitter Delmon Young then grounded into a double play on the first pitch of his at-bat to end the game.

Game Notes

Toronto's Jose Bautista missed the game with shoulder soreness ... Baltimore's Kevin Gausman struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief ... Joseph finished 0-for-3 and could not extend his hitting streak to a career-high eight games ... Toronto will send Drew Hutchison to the mound looking for the series sweep on Thursday against Baltimore's Chris Tillman.