Orioles 3, Blue Jays 2
Chris Davis hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Bud Norris pitched 6 2/3 strong innings as host Baltimore stymied Toronto.
Davis’ fourth homer of the month snapped a 1-1 tie and helped the Orioles win for the ninth time in 14 games. Norris (6-5) allowed one run and seven hits and struck out five while winning for the fourth time in five starts.
Toronto starter R.A. Dickey (6-5) gave up three runs (two earned) and six hits in 6 2/3 innings before exiting with tightness in his groin. Brett Lawrie’s run-scoring single in the eighth brought the Blue Jays within one before Baltimore’s Zach Britton induced Melky Cabrera to bounce into a game-ending double play in the ninth for his seventh save.
Toronto loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batter in the second before Josh Thole drew a bases-loaded walk off Norris. Baltimore’s Delmon Young and Ryan Flaherty hit back-to-back one-out singles in the fourth and Young scored on Nick Hundley’s sacrifice fly to center.
Adam Jones reached on a throwing error by Blue Jays third baseman Juan Francisco in the fifth and Davis followed with the blast into the Baltimore bullpen beyond the left-center field fence. Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion doubled to left field in the eighth and Jose Bautista was thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay throw by Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy. The play was upheld despite the Blue Jays challenging the way Hundley blocked the plate and proved bigger when Lawrie drove in Encarnacion.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Blue Jays LHP Brett Cecil (groin) was unavailable after leaving Friday’s contest. … Baltimore 3B Manny Machado had two hits and is 6-for-11 in the series. … Toronto activated RHP Sergio Santos (forearm) from the disabled list and optioned OF Darin Mastroianni to Triple-A Buffalo.