MLB GAME RECAP

Bautista, Donaldson help Jays widen lead over O’s

The Sports Xchange

August 29, 2016 at 9:58 pm.

Aug 29, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (19) is congratulated by third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 29, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (19) is congratulated by third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

— Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista hit solo homers, and starter Marco Estrada gave up one run over seven-plus innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 Monday night.

This was the opener of a key three-game series in the American League East. First-place Toronto (75-56) now has won four straight and pushed third-place Baltimore (71-60) four games behind with only 31 games remaining.

Donaldson’s 34th homer and fourth in two games tied the game in the fourth while Bautista gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead in the sixth with his 16th and first since returning from the disabled list Thursday.

Troy Tulowitzki added an RBI single in the fourth. Justin Smoak did the same in the ninth, and Devon Travis drove in the final run with a groundout later that inning.

Estrada (8-6) kept the strong Baltimore offense quiet after he struggled in his last two starts. This time, he allowed just one run on four hits in his seven-plus innings and exited after J.J. Hardy opened the eighth with a single.

Joe Biagini came on to finish the eighth while Joaquin Benoit took care of the ninth.

Baltimore starter Wade Miley (8-11) allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings, his longest effort since coming to the team in July. The left-hander struck out nine and retired the side in order in five of the seven innings, but he allowed three runs on five hits in the other two — specifically the fourth and sixth.

The Orioles could not give Miley much support on offense. Hardy’s solo homer in the second was all they scored for the left-hander in their fourth loss in five games.

Hardy’s solo homer to left started the third inning. The ball just got past left fielder Melvin Upton Jr.’s leap, into the glove of a fan and made it 1-0.

Donaldson quickly tied it in the top of the fourth with a one-out homer to center after Miley retired the first 10 Toronto hitters. Tulowitzki put the Jays up 2-1 later in the inning with an RBI single.

The Orioles threatened in the fifth, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but Estrada struck out Jonathan Schoop and kept the Jays in the lead.

NOTES: Orioles RHP Chris Tillman threw off flat ground Monday and did well, according to manager Buck Showalter. Tillman is on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis retroactive to Aug. 21. Showalter said he’ll throw again Wednesday, and if that goes well, the right-hander will start moving “toward the mound. … Monday’s game was the opener of a nine-game road trip that will take the Blue Jays to Baltimore, Tampa Bay and New York (Yankees) as the season winds down.

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