Blue Jays 4, Orioles 3
BALTIMORE -- Justin Smoak drove in the tie-breaking run on a fielder's choice in the ninth as the Toronto Blue Jays scored three runs in the final two innings and moved one step closer to the American League East title with a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.
The Blue Jays (91-65) are winners of five straight games and reduced their magic number to three.
This gives Toronto a better chance to clinch the division title in Baltimore (76-80), where the Jays watched the Orioles do it last year.
Catcher Dioner Navarro began the game-winning rally in the ninth with a soft single to right off right-hander Brad Brach (5-3). Dalton Pompey came on to pinch-run and moved to second on center fielder Kevin Pillar's single.
Shortstop Ryan Goins then moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate before first baseman Smoak hit a soft grounder toward Chris Davis. The Baltimore first baseman tried to nail Pompey at the plate, but Davis made an off-balance throw that sailed past catcher Matt Wieters.
Pompey scored easily and Pillar tried, but Wieters grabbed the ball and made a diving tag that stood up under review.
Left-hander Brett Cecil (5-5) came on in the eighth inning and earned the victory. He replaced right-hander Marco Estrada, who allowed just three runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Right-hander Roberto Osuna replaced Cecil in the ninth and got the last two outs for his 20th save.
Right fielder Ryan Flaherty hit a three-run homer in the second for Baltimore after designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion got a solo shot in the top of that inning, and Oriole starter Chris Tillman held that 3-1 lead until the eighth.
The right-hander left with one out in that eighth and a runner on second before right-hander Darren O'Day came on and ran into trouble.
O'Day allowed three straight singles, including run-scoring shots from left fielder Ben Revere and right fielder Jose Bautista, as the Jays tied the game at 3-3.
NOTES: CF Adam Jones was held out of the lineup for the sixth time in seven games due to lingering issues from his back spasms. Jones played on Sunday in Boston but talked with manager Buck Showalter Monday afternoon and said he was still feeling some stiffness. ... RHP Tyler Wilson appears to be the leading candidate for Thursday's series finale with the Blue Jays. ... SS Troy Tulowitzki (cracked scapula, bruised upper back muscles) took live batting practice Monday, fared well, and said that he'd be back for the playoffs. Tulowitzki and manager John Gibbons both said they're hoping he might get into the lineup in this series but they want to be careful. The shortstop has been out since Sept. 12.