The Orioles' bullpen pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to help Baltimore snap a season-high-tying five-game losing streak, while also ending a streak of five straight losses against Toronto.
"We came here in first place, we are going to try to maintain it," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It's going to be tough. Nobody is trying to back into it. They are good, Boston's good. New York is a week away from being there, too. So, we just got to take care of ourselves."
Jones' three-run homer
BAL@TOR: Jones extends the lead with a home run
Adam Jones hits a home run to left-center field, plating three to extend the lead to 6-2 in the top of the 12th inning
Neither starter factored into the final decision.
Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez cruised until the top of the seventh inning. The 24-year-old right-hander took a 2-0 lead into the frame and allowed two runs in the inning. Sanchez finished his outing after seven innings and officially set a new career high with 139 1/3 innings in a season.
"I think going into the year, we all kind of knew it was going to be a career high in innings," Sanchez said. "It's something that I strove for in the offseason. I feel like I've pitched pretty well. A few bad ones here and there, but for the most part, the biggest thing is I feel strong. I haven't even broke a sweat in terms of that aspect. I don't feel fatigued. I haven't felt fatigued all year."
Sanchez's solid start
BAL@TOR: Sanchez strikes out three over seven frames
In his start against the Orioles, Aaron Sanchez strikes out three over seven frames while allowing four hits and two runs
Orioles starter Chris Tillman minimized the damage over his 5 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old righty allowed five hits and struck out six while allowing two runs.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Tulo time: Troy Tulowitzki extended the Blue Jays' lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning with a deep home run off the facing of the fifth deck in left. According to Statcast™, Tulowitzki's 18th home run traveled a projected 433 feet, left the bat at 107 mph and had a launch angle of 32 degrees. Tulowitzki's 18 home runs are third most among Major League shortstops. He later left the game an inning after getting hit in the right hand by a Tillman fastball and is day to day.
"They told me just to see how it feels tomorrow," Tulowitzki said. "I'll come to the field, see how it feels, and hopefully get that inflammation out of there. If I can throw and if I can grip a bat, then we'll see how long it takes. Hopefully not too long."
O's bats wake up: Things started with Schoop's single, which marked his 11th game-winning RBI this year. Jones followed with his 20th homer to give the O's some cushion and, perhaps, some life for the sluggish lineup as the O's head back home.
"He's been having a good year," Jones said of Schoop. "Nobody cares about the last couple days. It's about what you do in the present, and in that moment, he had one hell of an at-bat. He drove him in."
Hustle points: For the second straight game, Devon Travis put the Blue Jays on the board. After notching his seventh home run Saturday, Travis drove in the opening run in the second inning with a fielder's-choice grounder. The young second baseman hit what appeared to be a potential double-play ball to short, but beat the relay back to first base.
Travis plates Martin
BAL@TOR: Travis' RBI grounder opens the scoring
Devon Travis hits a grounder that sends Russell Martin home to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead
Tillman makes it to the 6th: One out shy of a quality start, Tillman was able to keep the O's in the game and pitch well in a place that has historically been tough for him. Given the Orioles' rotation woes, Tillman's effort was much better than what the O's received in the first two games of the series.
"It is always a challenge facing these guys, whether they're swinging [well] or not," Tillman said. "They spoil a lot of pitches and make you work, trying to make you make a mistake. But we didn't give in and made some pitches when we had to."
It marked the fifth time in Tillman's last six starts he has allowed two or fewer runs.
Tillman's six strikeouts
BAL@TOR: Tillman strikes out six in solid outing
During his start against the Blue Jays, Chris Tillman strikes out six while allowing five hits and two runs
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Jones has now recorded at least 20 homers in six consecutive seasons.
WHAT'S NEXT
Orioles: After an off-day on Monday, the O's will send Dylan Bundy to the mound for the series opener against Texas on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Bundy is making his fourth career Major League start. The former first-round Draft pick, who made the Opening Day bullpen, has gone 14 innings in his first three starts, going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 17 strikeouts. .
Blue Jays: Marcus Stroman gets the ball for the Blue Jays on Monday as they open a four-game series vs. Houston at Minute Maid Park, with first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. ET. Stroman (8-4, 4.92) showed signs of improvement in July after making a couple of slight mechanical changes. The 25-year-old right-hander went 2-0 and posted a 3.71 ERA for the month.
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This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
