The Blue Jays overpower the Orioles to take the lead in the AL East
TORONTO -- J.A. Happ won his eighth straight decision, Devon Travis homered and the Toronto Blue Jays used a seven-run fifth inning to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-1 Saturday and take sole possession of the AL East lead for the first time since early April.
Kevin Pillar had two hits and drove in four runs to match his career high. Major league RBIs leader Edwin Encarnacion drove in his 89th run.
Toronto, which won for the 16th time in 22 games, had not been alone atop its division since a 2-0 start. The Blue Jays have scored seven or more runs in an inning three times this season.
Pedro Alvarez hit a solo homer for the Orioles, who matched a season-high by losing their fifth straight and fell a half-game behind the Blue Jays.
Happ (14-3) allowed one run and three hits in seven-plus innings, walked three and matched his season-high with 11 strikeouts. Happ struck out a career-high 12 against Baltimore on Aug. 7, 2014.
Josh Donaldson had two singles and walked twice before being replaced by pinch-runner Darwin Barney in the eighth.
Alvarez connected on an 0-2 pitch with two out in the second, his 13th.
Travis tied it with a line-drive homer off Yovani Gallardo (3-3) in the fifth. Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson walked, Encarnacion hit an RBI double and Michael Saunders was intentionally walked.
Mychal Givens walked Troy Tulowitzki, then gave up two-run doubles to Russell Martin and Kevin Pillar.
Gallardo (3-3) lost for the first time in five career meetings with the Blue Jays, including Game 1 of last year's AL Division Series. He allowed five runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.
#VIEWS from first place. https://t.co/VvuOUZ5zlF pic.twitter.com/mcqyrYgR2o
— MLB (@MLB) July 30, 2016
Baltimore chased Happ in the eighth and loaded the bases against Joe Biagini with no outs but couldn't score. Jonathan Schoop grounded into a fielder's choice, Manny Machadao flied out and Brett Cecil came on to strike out Chris Davis.
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RHP Chris Tillman (14-3), Baltimore's scheduled starter Sunday, allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings in a 6-3 loss to Colorado in his last outing. Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez (11-1) has won his past 10 decisions.
