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Markakis, O's top Blue Jays

Apr 23, 2013 - 5:01 AM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Nick Markakis drove in the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning to help Baltimore take a 2-1 win over Toronto in the opener of a three-game series.

With Aaron Loup (1-2) on the mound, Chris Davis was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved up a base on J.J. Hardy's sacrifice bunt. After Steve Pearce popped out, Nolan Reimold was intentionally walked. Alexi Casilla then hit a hot-shot to short that Munenori Kawasaki fielded, but he one-hopped the ball to first and Edwin Encarnacion couldn't scoop it out of the dirt.

Markakis then punched an opposite-field single to left and Davis easily scored for the win.

Markakis made a winner of Jim Johnson (1-1), who tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for the victory. Chris Tillman gave up a run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Davis drove in the other run for the Orioles, who have won four of five.

"I was able to get ahead with my pitches early, and my secondary stuff was there for me," said Tillman, whose main issue has been working from behind in the count. "I was able to pound the strike zone early and kind of make the pitches when I needed to."

Toronto's J.A. Happ was strong in the start, giving up a run on four hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts over six-plus innings. Colby Rasmus drove in the lone run of the game for the Blue Jays, who have lost three of four.

"We battled, but they played just as well and came out on top with the big hit there at the end," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "That's the way it goes sometimes."

Not a single runner got past second until the bottom of the sixth when Baltimore went on top.

Manny Machado singled to lead off and Adam Jones followed suit. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base, but Matt Wieters grounded out. Davis, though, lofted a fly ball to right that was deep enough to score Machado for a 1-0 lead.

Toronto, which had just one hit through the first six innings, answered in the seventh. With one out, Encarnacion singled and, after Adam Lind struck out, J.P. Arencibia singled. A base hit from Rasmus plated Encarnacion and Darren O'Day took over for Tillman.

A walk to Brett Lawrie loaded the bases, but Emilio Bonifacio struck out to end the inning.

Game Notes

Earlier on Monday, Toronto traded outfielder Casper Wells to Oakland for cash considerations ... Baltimore won 11 of the 18 games against Toronto last season ... R.A. Dickey pitches for Toronto on Tuesday while Miguel Gonzalez takes the hill for Baltimore.