BALTIMORE -- Stellar starting pitching, solid defense and a three-run homer. A throwback to the great Orioles teams of yesteryear? Perhaps. But it was still a welcome respite for this year's O's, who are often left trying to find a positive amid an oft-lopsided scoreboard.
On Monday, they found two -- Trey Mancini and David Hess -- and snapped an eight-game losing skid in the process with a 7-0 feel-good win over the Blue Jays. A Toronto team that swept the O's in a three-game series north of the border last week, again had no answer for Hess, who was backed by a career-high tying five-RBI night from Mancini.
"Obviously [it's important] for them, and for us, too," manager Buck Showalter said of guys like Mancini and Hess ending the season on a good note.

"A couple of at-bats, it looks like Trey's going to have a tough night there and next thing you know, he's instrumental. I know the three-run homer was big and everything, but the ability to give us that cushion [with a two-run double in the seventh] that's something we've done in the past and haven't been good at this year; expand on the lead and make the game [have] a little less anxiety to it."
The rookie Hess, who tossed a career-high seven innings with seven strikeouts in Toronto on Aug. 22, went six scoreless frames against them on Monday. The 25-year-old, like many of his teammates, is getting a chance as the season dwindles, to show that he belongs as part of the club's rebuild. Hess has certainly stated his case over his past three starts, allowing just three earned runs over 19 innings after a rough June and a July that saw him back in the Minor Leagues.

"I think it's really staying pitch to pitch and staying in the moment, evaluating what you need in each situation," Hess said of his recent success. "Talking with [pitching coach] Roger [McDowell] and talking to the veteran guys like [Alex Cobb] and [Andrew Cashner], kind of picking their brains to kind of see what they've done in their careers to get to where they're at. I think that's been a big help, learning to slow the game down a little bit and make each pitch a quality pitch rather than trying to force the situation."
Hess referenced an offspeed pitch to Cleveland's Yonder Alonso last weekend -- with the bases loaded -- that helped his confidence in using his offspeed in a big situation. He also credited McDowell challenging him following a start in Texas earlier this month for helping spark the turnaround.
"In a lot of ways I think it was because I kind of pride myself on being a competitor ... and I think that brought that out a little more," Hess said. "That kind of resonated and showed a little bit in Cleveland. I think that was a big turning point as well."
Mancini, meanwhile, continues to pace a second-half offense left ravaged by trades (Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop) and injury (Mark Trumbo). After the O's loaded the bases on Jays starter Sam Gaviglio -- scoring on Chris Davis' fielder's choice -- Mancini sent a 1-1 pitch into right-center field for a big three-run homer in the sixth.
He also doubled in two runs off Danny Barnes in the seventh, marking his first five-RBI game since last June.

"It felt good," said Mancini, who is batting .292 with seven homers in 35 second-half games.
Whenever guys are in scoring position, especially and with less than two outs, you want to get them in, and I haven't been doing the best job of that this year, so it felt good to do that a couple of times tonight."
Miguel Castro tossed a 1-2-3 seventh for the O's, with Paul Fry navigating a scoreless eighth.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The little things: Mancini had the big blow, but what will get less attention is the Orioles putting together some encouraging at-bats. Cedric Mullins singled to start things off and Jonathan Villar bunted, with the pair moving over on a wild pitch. Gaviglio intentionally walked Adam Jones to get to Davis.
MULLINS RETURNS
The Orioles' center fielder returned to the starting lineup a day after sitting with a sore left hip. Mullins went 1-for-4.

ROSTER MOVES
The Orioles optioned reliever Cody Carroll after the game to clear a roster spot for Tuesday's starter, left-hander Josh Rogers.
HE SAID IT
"He's one of those guys that understands the opportunity that he's getting and he's not going to want to miss a chance to impress." --Showalter, on Hess
UP NEXT
Rogers will start and make his Major League debut Tuesday night. He was acquired in the Zach Britton trade. The Blue Jays will oppose with lefty Thomas Pannone in the 7:05 p.m. ET matchup.