Orioles 5, Blue Jays 2
BALTIMORE -- Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Adam Jones all homered while starter Ubaldo Jimenez threw seven strong innings as the Baltimore Orioles celebrated their return home after a long road trip with a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.
Machado, the third baseman, led off the first with a homer off Toronto starter Marco Estrada (1-2), and the right-hander gave up a two-run shot to first baseman Davis later in the frame for a quick 3-0 Baltimore lead.
Center fielder Jones added his solo shot in the seventh off right-hander Steve Delabar to put the Orioles (14-16) up 5-2. Catcher Caleb Joseph's sixth-inning sacrifice fly scored the other run.
Jimenez (3-2) allowed two runs on six hits in his seven innings, striking out a season-high nine batters. He struck out the side in the first and fourth and got eight of his strikeouts against the top four hitters in the Toronto lineup.
Right-hander Darren O'Day retired the Jays (16-17) in the eighth, and left-hander Zach Britton sealed the win in the ninth for his seventh save despite giving up two singles. Pinch-hitter Jose Bautista came up as the tying run but grounded softly to Machado to end the game.
Left fielder Ezequiel Carrera knocked in both Blue Jays runs with doubles in the fifth and seventh. His second double cut the lead to 4-2 before Orioles right fielder Delmon Young made a running catch of shortstop Ryan Goins' fly ball.
This was Baltimore's first home game before fans in 15 days. The riots and curfews in Baltimore forced postponement of the first two games of the White Sox series two weeks ago while the third game was played before a closed stadium on April 29.
The Orioles then moved their three-game series with the Rays to Tampa Bay so they were on the road for nine games -- and went just 3-6 during that trip.
They also lost second baseman Ryan Flaherty in this game, who was injured while reaching for a Goins single in the third. Flaherty just came off the disabled list last Friday after a groin strain sidelined him.
The Orioles forced Estrada to throw 34 pitches in the first inning by hitting numerous foul balls.
After Machado's home run, Young drew a two-out walk and then scored on Davis' long home run to right-center, giving the Orioles a 3-0 lead after just five batters.
Center fielder Kevin Pillar started a Toronto rally in the fifth with a two-out double and scored when Carrera followed with a double, making it 3-1.
NOTES: The Orioles transferred C Matt Wieters to the 60-day disabled list after claiming RHP Jorge Rondon off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. The move created a spot on the 40-man roster for Rondon, who was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. ... Before games on Monday, the Orioles were tied for first in the major leagues with 10 outfield assists. RF Delmon Young, who spent most of his time last year as a DH, led the Orioles and was tied for second in the American League with four. ... The Blue Jays were first in the major leagues with 172 runs scored through Sunday. Toronto was doing much of its damage in the first three innings, posting 133 runs. ... Jays C Russell Martin came into the game with seven homers. All of them were solo shots, and 15 of his last 18 were solo.