Gonzalez Injured, Orioles Beat Blue Jays 3-1
TORONTO (AP) -- Miguel Gonzalez pitched 5 1/3 innings before leaving with a strained right groin, Danny Valencia hit a two-run double and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday.
The Orioles, who came in 3 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay and Texas in the AL wild-card race, won their first road series since taking two of three at San Francisco on Aug. 9-11.
Baltimore slugger Chris Davis, who hit his 50th home run of the season Friday, went 0 for 3 and struck out twice. He also drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Orioles went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position but the hit was a big one: Valencia's two-out double in the third.
Valencia has six RBIs in four games, one more run than he drove in during all of August.
Adam Lind hit a solo home run for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six. Toronto lost for the 31st time this season when scoring first.
Manager Buck Showalter and trainer Richie Bancells came to the mound after Gonzalez (10-7) struck out Lind looking to begin the sixth. After a brief conversation, Gonzalez walked off and was replaced by rookie Kevin Gausman.
Gonzalez came in 0-2 with a 7.48 ERA in his last four road starts but was sharp against Toronto, allowing one run and six hits. He walked none and struck out three.
Gausman gave up a single to Moises Sierra and walked Rajai Davis before fanning Ryan Goins and J.P. Arencibia to end the sixth.
Brett Lawrie hit a two-out single off Francisco Rodriguez in the seventh and Edwin Encarnacion followed with a double, snapping an 0-for-18 slump. Lind was walked intentionally to load the bases before Tommy Hunter came on and struck out Sierra.
Hunter worked the eighth and Jim Johnson finished for his 45th save in 54 chances.
Lind opened the scoring with a leadoff shot into the second deck in the second, his 21st homer. The Orioles answered in the third when Valencia hit a two-out, two-run double to left, scoring Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.
An error, a double and a walk helped the Orioles load the bases in the fourth before Davis drew a two-out walk to force in a run.
Mark Buehrle (11-9) allowed three runs in five innings.
NOTES: Baltimore OF Nate McLouth was replaced by pinch-runner Chris Dickerson after being hit by a pitch on the right knee to begin the ninth. ... Toronto OF Colby Rasmus, who homered both Friday and Saturday, was scratched from the lineup after complaining of general soreness. Rasmus, who was activated off the 15-day DL before Friday's game, was replaced by Davis. ... Oriole RHP Bud Norris, who was scratched from Friday's start with a sore forearm, played catch before the game and is tentatively scheduled to throw in the bullpen Tuesday. ... The Orioles and Blue Jays are both off Monday. Baltimore begins a three-game series at Boston on Tuesday, while Toronto welcomes the New York Yankees for three.
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