The Sports Xchange
May 21, 2017
BALTIMORE -- Marco Estrada tied a career-high with 12 strikeouts, Devon Travis homered and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
Toronto beat Baltimore for just the second time in nine games this season. Baltimore fell to 15-4 at Camden Yards, which is still the best home record in the majors.
Estrada entered the game 4-1 with 58 strikeouts and a 2.84 ERA in 12 appearances, including 10 starts, against the Orioles. He was solid again and allowed just one run on five hits with a walk over 7 2/3 innings and improved to 3-2 on the year.
Orioles shortstop Jonathan Schoop committed an error on a routine grounder by Kendrys Morales with two outs in the first that proved to be costly. The Blue Jays took advantage with a single from Justin Smoak followed by a three-run homer by Travis, his second of the season.
None of those runs were charged to the Orioles' left-handed starter Wade Miley (1-2), who allowed six hits with three strikeouts and a walk over seven innings.
Adam Jones pulled the Orioles to within 3-1 with his seventh homer of the year in the fourth. Jones went 3 for 4 and tied Rafael Palmeiro for the most home runs in Camden Yards' history with 124.
Estrada, however, shook off that mistake and kept Baltimore off-balance the rest of the way with a solid mix of pitches. A two-out single by Jones in the eighth ended the day for Estrada, who got a standing ovation from a small contingent of Blue Jays' fans.
Right-hander Joe Smith entered and hit Manny Machado on the hand. Smith recovered by striking out Chris Davis to end the threat. Toronto's Roberto Osuna allowed a pair of hits in the ninth, but still managed to pick up his sixth save.
NOTES: Orioles INF Ryan Flaherty (right shoulder strain) was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Friday. As a result, Baltimore purchased the contract of INF Paul Janish from Triple-A Norfolk. ... Blue Jays C Russell Martin was back in the lineup for the second straight game after coming off the DL Saturday from nerve irritation in his left shoulder. Russell started at third base before moving back behind the plate in the eighth... Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy was held out of the starting lineup. Hardy, who is batting .194 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 38 games, entered in the eighth for Janish.