Baltimore, MD – J.P. Arencibia had the go-ahead, two-run hit in the bottom of the sixth, as Toronto downed Baltimore, 7-3, in the second test of a three-game set from Camden Yards.
"This year it's been a little different from the previous years (in terms of success) and at times I think I've lost my aggressiveness in those situations and I've been back to being aggressive and it's working out," Arencibia said of his change in approach."
Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run home run, while Colby Rasmus and Adam Lind each contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Blue Jays, who shook off a loss in Friday's opener.
Aaron Loup (4-3) turned in 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Todd Redmond for the win. Redmond lasted only four innings, charged with four hits and three runs with six strikeouts.
Brian Roberts doubled twice and drove in a run, with Chris Davis and Adam Jones both contributing solo homers for the Orioles, whose three-game win streak ended.
Jason Hammel (7-6) was tagged in defeat for 10 hits and six runs over six-plus frames.
Lind and Rasmus hit consecutive two-out singles to keep the sixth inning alive, then Arencibia brought both in to give Toronto a 4-3 edge in the sixth. The visitors piled on three more in the seventh.
Emilio Bonifacio was hit to start the frame, then Jose Reyes walked and Hammel was pulled for Jose Asencio. Jose Bautista made it 5-3 with an RBI double, then Encarnacion's free pass brought Troy Patton in from the bullpen. That move backfired when Lind's fielder's choice grounder scored Reyes and left runners on the corners, and a Rasmus grounder to short resulted in another run coming home.
"These guys battle for me," Hammel said. "You may get runs, you may not. But you've still got to make pitches during that time. And I'm just not doing it."
The Orioles had two on with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but Davis fanned against Brett Cecil and J.J. Hardy was retired on a bunt attempt by Steve Delabar.
Baltimore threatened again in the ninth, putting men on the corners with one out thanks to a leadoff walk by Matt Wieters and a pinch-single from Ryan Flaherty. Casey Janssen came in for Delabar and fanned both Nate McLouth and Manny Machado to end the game and pick up his 18th save.
"The bullpen came in and there's not much to say other than they've really been lights out the whole year and continue to pitch that way," Arencibia said.
Reyes began the game with a double and scored two batters later when Encarnacion reached the seats in left center for a 2-0 Toronto edge.
Davis' one-out solo homer in the second put the O's on the board, and the hosts moved ahead in the fourth when Jones led off with a homer and Roberts doubled home Davis, who was plunked following Jones' blast.
Game Notes
Toronto's Maicer Izturis led all players with three hits ... Davis has gone deep in each of the last three games. With one more contest before the All- Star break, he can equal or break Reggie Jackson's mark of 37 homers accumulated before the Mid-Summer Classic when he did so in 1969 for Oakland ... Prior to the game, the Jays activated third baseman Brett Lawrie from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Munenori Kawasaki to Triple-A Buffalo.
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