TORONTO — Chris Davis is finally turning things around.
Davis had a game-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth inning on Thursday night to lead the Baltimore Orioles over the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5.
The Orioles first baseman also tied the game with a solo home run in the seventh inning, as Baltimore got its eighth win in the past 11 games.
"It was nice to be the guy tonight," said Davis. "I’ve felt like the whole season I’ve been having really good at bats but just haven’t been able to push through. It was nice to come through for the guys tonight."
Davis, who is hitting .214 this season, also showed some athleticism by making a leaping grab in the third inning to rob Justin Smoak of a sure single down the right-field line.
"I think that’s probably my best jump of the year right there," said Davis.
Baltimore’s Hyun Soo Kim led off the ninth inning by finding the left-field gap with a double off Roberto Osuna, and was replaced by Joey Rickard as a pinch-runner. Manny Machado moved him over with a groundout, and Davis delivered the sacrifice fly.
Toronto (32-30) has now lost three of their last four games. Right-fielder Jose Bautista left the game in the sixth inning with right thigh tightness. Bautista is listed as day to day and will be re-evaluated on Friday.
Osuna (2-1) suffered the loss, while Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy (2-1) picked up the win. Zach Britton pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 19th save.
Toronto starter Marcus Stroman went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Tyler Wilson started for the Orioles and gave up five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.
"I was just struggling to get on top of the ball a little bit," said Stroman. "Our boys did enough to get a win, (I’m) extremely frustrated not being able to go out there and do my job and get this victory."
Stroman has allowed eight hits in six of his past seven starts after starting the season by giving up six or fewer in his first six starts.
Stroman struggled with his command out of the gate, issuing a leadoff walk to Adam Jones. Machado drove in Jones two batters later with an RBI double.
"It was a battle for him (Stroman). I did think he was a little better tonight than last time," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "He’ll be fine, he’s just going through a tough stretch. He’s a tough kid, he’ll survive that."
The Blue Jays offence knocked Wilson around in the first. After Bautista led off with a double to left-centre and Josh Donaldson walked, Edwin Encarnacion delivered with a sacrifice fly to deep centre, driving in Bautista. Michael Saunders followed with an RBI double giving Toronto the lead, while Russell Martin later smoked a two-out RBI single up the middle extending the lead to 3-1.
Bautista had a one-out RBI single that scored Devon Travis in the second to extend the lead to three runs.
Baltimore got to Stroman in the third, sending seven batters to the plate, yet only scoring two runs. Jones, Machado and Mark Trumbo all hit hard singles, while Davis delivered a sacrifice fly in a bases-loaded, no out situation. Matt Wieters knocked in the other run through a fielder’s choice.
Bautista also scored in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-3 as Josh Donaldson lined a two-out triple to the wall driving him in.
Stroman was pulled in favour of Joe Biagini in the sixth after giving up a one-out solo home run to Pedro Alvarez.
Davis tied the game at five with his 13th home run of the season off Aaron Loup.
Notes: Machado will appeal a four-game suspension given to him earlier Thursday by Major League Baseball… . Attendance at Rogers Centre was 41,448… . The Orioles lead MLB in home runs with 89… . Since 2008, Davis has the most home runs against the Blue Jays with 32.
