Behind early O's output, Gonzalez stifles Jays
BALTIMORE -- Miguel Gonzalez tossed 7 2/3 quality innings, and the Orioles hit five doubles in a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.
Gonzalez was nearly flawless against the Blue Jays as he allowed three hits and three walks while striking out five. Toronto's only run came in the eighth inning, and it was unearned because of a passed ball charged to Caleb Joseph. Gonzalez's outing is a continuation of a trend that has seen him post a 7-2 record and a 2.36 ERA in 12 career games against the Blue Jays.
Video: TOR@BAL: Gonzalez holds Blue Jays to one unearned run
The Orioles did almost all of their damage in the second inning, when they sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs against Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez. Joseph, Manny Machado and Alejandro De Aza all had run-scoring doubles in the inning, and the Orioles cruised the rest of the way.
De Aza had a pair of hits with an RBI and a run scored for the Orioles. Joseph added a pair of RBIs, while Rey Navarro hit his first career homer in the eighth inning with a solo shot off Toronto closer Brett Cecil.
Video: TOR@BAL: Navarro connects for his first MLB home run
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Walks come back to haunt Sanchez: Sanchez entered the game with more walks than any pitcher in the Major Leagues, and the high number of free passes proved to be an issue against Baltimore. Sanchez walked the first two batters he faced in the second, and both of them came around to score as part of the five-run inning. A pair of walks also chased Sanchez from the game in the sixth, when he threw eight of nine pitches outside the strike zone and was taken out in favor of right-hander Liam Hendriks. More >
Joseph gets O's started: With the game scoreless, Baltimore's David Lough sacrificed runners to second and third in the second inning. Batting with one out, Joseph quickly fell behind Sanchez 0-2. He lined the next pitch from Sanchez, a curveball, down the left-field line for a two-run double that sparked a five-run inning.
Video: TOR@BAL: Joseph rips a two-run double down the line
Manny's dive stifles Toronto rally: Trailing, 5-0, Ezequiel Carrera was hit by a pitch to start the third inning, and Devon Travis singled him to third and went to second on the throw. Josh Donaldson then hit a bouncer to Machado, who charged it, fielded the short hop cleanly and saw Carrera several steps off third base. Carrera tried to dive back into third, but Machado dove and tagged him for the first out of the inning. Toronto challenged the play, but the call was confirmed, and Jose Bautista then hit into a double play.
Video: TOR@BAL: Out call on Carrera confirmed in 3rd
"Manny made a big play," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I thought that was a momentum-turner at third base."
QUOTABLE
"I just feel like it was something out of this world. That's the dream coming true. Playing in the big leagues and then you hit your first home run."
-- Navarro
"Gonzalez is always tough on us, I don't care where it's at. He's a pitcher, he has a good quick arm, he moves the ball around. He has always been tough on us."
-- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Blue Jays had their streak of consecutive games with at least one double snapped at 31. It was the second-longest streak in club history and fell one shy of the franchise record set in 2008. This also marked the first game of the year that Toronto didn't have at least one extra-base hit.
WHAT'S NEXT
Blue Jays: The Blue Jays will send right-hander Drew Hutchison to the mound when they open a four-game series against the Astros on Thursday night at 8:10 p.m. ET. Hutchison is coming off a decent outing against the Red Sox, which saw him allow one earned run over five innings. He has pitched more than five innings just twice in seven starts this year.
Orioles: Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen takes the mound when the Angels visit Baltimore on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET to begin a three-game series between 2014 division winners. Chen allowed a run on five hits over seven innings against the Yankees on Saturday, and he has given up three earned runs or fewer in each of his six starts.
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