Jimenez, Orioles throttle Blue Jays 4-0
TORONTO -- Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one hit in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Blue Jays 4-0 on Thursday night to tie Toronto for the first American League wild-card spot.
The Orioles (87-72) took the rubber match of the three-game series after the Blue Jays (87-72) took the opener. Baltimore's victory eliminated Houston and the New York Yankees from wild-card contention.
Baltimore visits the New York Yankees for a three-game series to conclude the regular season while Toronto travels to Boston.
Jimenez (8-12) walked three and struck out five in winning for the third time in five starts in September.
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (9-10) allowed nine hits, two walks and four runs in seven-plus innings. He struck out three in losing his fifth straight decision.
The Blue Jays had a single by Ezequiel Carrera to lead off the first followed by walk by Josh Donaldson.
Jimenez retired the next six batters before walking Devon Travis to lead off the third, then retired 11 in a row before walking Edwin Encarnacion with two out in the sixth.
Michael Bourn walked and stole second to open the seventh. J.J. Hardy failed to advance the runner with his groundout to shortstop and Bourn stayed at second when Adam Jones flied to the wall in center field.
Hyun Soo Kim singled to right to score Bourn to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead.
Jimenez was removed with two out in the seventh for left-hander Donnie Hart, who ended the inning on a groundout to shortstop by pinch hitter Melvin Upton Jr. .
The Orioles added a run in the eighth on a leadoff double by Mark Trumbo followed by an RBI single by Matt Wieters and Baltimore led 4-0.
Aaron Loup replaced Stroman and struck out Chris Davis before being replaced by Ryan Tepera, who struck out Jonathan Schoop and Bourn to end the inning. He also pitched a perfect ninth.
Brad Brach replaced Hart in eighth and allowed a leadoff single to Kevin Pillar, the Blue Jays' second hit of the game. After Travis struck out, Carrera hit a double-play grounder to shortstop.
Brach allowed a one-out double to Encarnacion in the ninth and a balk moved him to third. Jose Bautista struck out for the third time and Russell Martin grounded out to short to end the game.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the third on a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado. It scored J.J. Hardy, who led off with a double and took third on a groundout to first by Adam Jones.
After Hyun Soo Kim walked, Machado hit a fly to deep center that brought Hardy home.
The Orioles had runners at the corners in the fourth after one-out singles by Davis and Jonathan Schoop.
Davis scored for a 2-0 lead when Michael Bourn's fielder's choice grounder to third forced Schoop at second.
NOTES: Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis (sore left shoulder) returned to the lineup Thursday. He left the game Monday in the sixth inning after the shoulder hampered his swing following his participation in the second-inning bench-clearing incident with the New York Yankees. He did not play Tuesday or Wednesday. ... Orioles OF Hyun Soo Kim started in left field Thursday after hitting a pinch-hit two-run homer in the ninth inning that gave Baltimore a 3-2 victory Wednesday. ... Toronto promoted Joe Sheehan to assistant general manager, appointed Perry Minasian to special assistant to the GM and hired Steve Sanders as amateur scouting director. ... Toronto RHP Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.53 ERA) faces Boston RHP Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.11) at Fenway Park on Friday. ... Baltimore RHP Yovani Gallardo (5-8, 5.63 ERA) starts at Yankee Stadium Friday. New York's starter will be RHP Michael Pineda (6-11, 4.68).