Valencia hits two-run double to lead Baltimore Orioles past Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO – Danny Valencia drove in two runs with a double as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday.

Adam Lind homered for the Blue Jays who have lost five of their first six games of their current nine-game homestand.

The Orioles (79-70) who entered Sunday three-and-a-half games removed from an American League wild card spot, won two of three from the Blue Jays (68-81) to take the three-game series.

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (10-7) was removed from the game after 5 1-3 innings after a visit by manager Buck Showalter and a trainer. He had just struck out Lind to open the sixth and the club reported a right groin strain.

Gonzalez held the Blue Jays to one run on six hits to pick up the win.

Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 45th save of the season.

Blue Jays’ left-hander Mark Buehrle (11-9) allowed six hits, three walks and three runs (two earned) while striking out four in five innings. It was the second loss in a row for Buehrle after winning six consecutive decisions.

Lind led off the bottom of the second with his 21st homer of the season to open the scoring.

Valencia doubled in two runs with two out in the third to put the Orioles into a 2-1 lead. The double scored Nick Markakis, who led off the inning with a single, and Adam Jones, who walked with two out.

The Orioles added a run in the fourth to go ahead 3-1 when Chris Davis walked with the bases loaded. He forced in Michael Morse who reached first on an error when shortstop Jose Reyes dropped his line drive.

After Davis walked, second baseman Ryan Goins ended the inning on a diving play on a ground ball by Jones.

The Blue Jays threatened to cut into the lead in the seventh. Edwin Encarnacion hit a ground-rule double against Francisco Rodriguez and Brett Lawrie, who had singled with two out had to stop at third. After Lind was intentionally walked, Tommy Hunter replaced Rodriguez and struck out Moises Sierra to end the threat.

Notes: Attendance at Rogers Centre was 22,331. … After hitting a home run in each of his first two games back from the disabled list, Blue Jays CF Colby Rasmus was given the day off because of what the club termed “overall soreness”. …. The Blue Jays have Monday off before facing the New York Yankees in a three-game series at Rogers Centre on Tuesday. RHP R.A. Dickey (12-12, 4.38 earned-run average) will start the opener for the Blue Jays with LHP Andy Pettitte (10-9, 4.04 ERA) starting for the Yankees.