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O's, Jays jockey for position at Rogers Centre

Jun 21, 2015 - 1:52 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of teams that remain within striking distance of first place in the American League East get together for the finale of a three-game set on Sunday as the Baltimore Orioles clash with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Toronto, which is heading south to battle division-leading Tampa Bay for three games beginning on Monday, saw a three-game win streak come to an end yesterday when the O's posted a 5-3 victory. Still, the Jays are just three games out of first in the division and Baltimore one game behind them.

The Orioles were paced by Manny Machado who had three hits, two of them being doubles, as he knocked in two and scored twice for the visitors. Travis Snider also came up with three hits, stroking the only other extra-base effort by Baltimore as it won for the seventh time in the last 10 outings.

Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman wasn't around to earn the decision, lasting five innings while giving up two runs on four hits and a walk, with just a single strikeout. Instead, it was Darren O'Day who picked up his third win of the campaign, striking out three in the eighth innings, but also surrendering two hits and a walk during the frame.

"Yeah, it is a game of momentum," O'Day said of his efforts. "Especially here in Toronto with this team, 'Momentum Squad.' It's tough here to keep your cool -- and all of our guys did a great job today. We are going to scrap something together, and the way the ninth worked out, it's interesting that a hit-by- pitch played into the game -- the winning run scoring."

Zach Britton, who gave up a run on three hits in the ninth, was still credited with his 19th save.

Saddled with the loss for the Jays was Aaron Loup who was tagged for three runs on just two hits in the ninth when he retired only two batters. Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle held the O's to two runs on six hits and a walk, striking out five in seven innings.

Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion both knocked in runs for Toronto, while the former and Jose Reyes both had a pair of hits in the setback.

With the loss the Blue Jays saw their home win streak stopped at nine in a row, falling one shy of tying the all-time record of 10 straight set back in 1985.

Aiming to get the Blue Jays back into the win column this afternoon will be Scott Copeland. The rookie right-hander from the Lone Star State has appeared in just four games previously, splitting his last two after beginning with a pair of no-decisions in early May.

On Tuesday Copeland lasted just four innings against the New York Mets on the road, scattering eight hits which led to three runs.

While Copeland will be seeing the Baltimore lineup for the very first time, the same cannot be said for O's hurler Chris Tillman. Already with a career mark of 4-9 with a 5.23 ERA in 17 appearances versus Toronto, Tillman is aiming to extend his current win streak to four in a row.

The right-hander, who has been with the Orioles since breaking into the majors in 2009, was part of the 19-3 demolition of Philadelphia on Tuesday. The California native permitted three runs on four hits and three walks over six innings, striking out three along the way.