Russell Martin homer helps Jays stave off Orioles comeback and beat Baltimore

TORONTO – Blue Jays reliever Jason Grilli says he’s still getting used to the American League East.

“It’s like a heavyweight boxing match every night,” said the 39-year-old right-hander, who joined the Jays in late May from Atlanta. “No big lead is big enough from the sounds of it and from the looks of it.”

That was almost the case Sunday as Toronto blew leads of 5-0 in the first inning and 7-1 in the third against Baltimore, eventually hanging on for a 10-9 victory. Grilli got a nervy first save as a Blue Jay, closing the door after putting the first two men on base in the ninth.

The Orioles hit five home runs, four of which came off Aaron Sanchez (6-1) who became the first Blue Jay to win a decision when surrendering four home runs. It marked just the fifth win in franchise history when allowing five homers — the last time was May 3, 1999, at Seattle.

Down 7-1, Baltimore used the long ball to get back to 7-6.

But Russell Martin drove a 1-1 pitch off reliever Mychal Givens deep to centre in the sixth to drive in Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders and pad the Toronto lead to 10-6.

Adam Jones, with his second homer of the day and 11th of the season, made it interesting with a two-run shot off Pat Venditte in the eighth to cut the lead to 10-8.

In the ninth, Manny Machado singled and Grilli walked Chris Davis and, after striking out Mark Trumbo, Matt Wieters to load the bases. Ezequiel Carrerra hauled in a Pedro Alvarez fly ball with a fine catch at the fence, scoring Machado on the sacrifice fly. But Grilli struck out Jonathan Schoop to end the threat.

“It was one of those days,” said manager John Gibbons, citing the heat, stiff breeze and Baltimore’s hitting ability. “We outlasted them. It was a hell of a game, really a hell of a series. So we feel good today, that’s for sure.

“It got a little tight but our new big acquisition came through. He’s got a lot of guts.”

Said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter: “Our guys were engaged and came real close and put a good scare into them.”

Grilli was needed for a second game in a row because closer Roberto Osuna has been dealing with a sore arm the last few days.

“Nothing major but we can’t afford to lose him,” said Gibbons.

Grilli, who has also played for Florida, the White Sox, Detroit, Colorado, Texas, Pittsburgh, the Angels and Atlanta, had three strikeouts in closing out Saturday’s 11-6 win.

“I was a little bit tired today honestly. But I always give out what I have and it was enough.”

Toronto (35-30) has won three straight, nine of its last 13 and now stands five games above .500 for the first time this season. The Orioles (36-26) have lost three in a row after a five-game win streak.

Toronto, collecting 10 or more hits for the third straight game, outhit Baltimore 14-13 in reaching the 10-run mark for the fourth time this season. They had 12 10-plus-run games at the same stage last season.

Jones, Wieters and Davis, homering for his fifth straight game to up his season total to 16, all found the fence off Sanchez in a four-run fifth inning to cut the lead to 7-6. It was the first time the Jays had surrendered three homers in one inning since June 24, 2013, at Tampa Bay.

Davis homered in each of the four games in Toronto. He did not play in Baltimore’s game Wednesday against Kansas City but homered again the Royals on Tuesday.

Alvarez hit a solo shot for the Orioles in the fourth. Kevin Pillar also homered for Toronto.

Baltimore came into the game leading the majors with 94 home runs while Toronto was tied for fifth with 83. The two combined for 19 homers in the four-game series.

Sanchez, who struck out a career-high 12 in his last start, came into the game leading the majors in ground ball outs at 59.5 per cent. He could have used a few more grounders in a difficult five-inning outing that saw him give up six runs on 10 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

“I felt like I made good pitches out there. Just one bad inning really,” he said. “They were able to lift some balls up. Obviously the wind was doing its thing today. There’s no excuses.”

“I’ll learn from that inning and move on,” he added.

In posting a 3-1 series win over the Orioles, the Jays have now won six of their last seven completed series since May 19, going 16-7 in the process.

The game was played with the roof open on a breezy 19-degree Celsius day before a sellout crowd of 47,249. There was a moment of silence prior to the anthems for the victims of the Orlando shooting.

Encarnacion, who broke out of an 0-for-19 slump with a walk-off home Friday night, scored three times as he continued his hot hand with two hits and a walk.

Toronto sent nine men to the plate in the first inning and led 2-0 before starter Ubaldo Jimenez (3-7) registered an out with his 18th pitch. Six of the first seven Jays to bat notched a hit as Toronto chased the veteran right-hander after 30 pitches.

Jays right-fielder Jose Bautista, sidelined for a third game with quad tightness, is expected to play DH against the visiting Phillies on Monday.

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