Jays continue to slide

TORONTO Perhaps a change of scenery is just what the Toronto Blue Jays need right now.

A dismal 1-6 homestand was capped Thursday afternoon with an 8-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Blue Jays (23-27) have dropped nine of 11 games overall and 14 of their last 18 games at Rogers Centre.

The players packed up right after the latest loss for a flight to Philadelphia ahead of a nine-game road trip.

“I’m ready to get on the road, there’s no doubt,” said Toronto manager John Gibbons. “This was a brutal homestand for us.”

Mike Trout hit his teamleading 15th home run and starter Nick Tropeano was solid over 7 1/3 innings as Los Angeles took the rubber game of the three-game set.

Albert Pujols also homered for the Angels (28-22) while Martin Maldonado had two hits and drove in three runs. Los Angeles is a majors-best 16-5 on the road this season.

“We pressured them all afternoon,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “You get 15 chances with guys in scoring position, that’s good. We did a lot of good things out there.”

The retractable roof was open on a glorious spring afternoon but the Blue Jays gave the 43,344 spectators little to cheer about.

Dwight Smith Jr., provided one of the few Toronto highlights with his first career homer. The Angels outhit the Blue Jays 12-5.

Toronto is winless in its last seven series (0-5-2).

“We’re not putting complete games together and that’s a recipe for not having success,” said Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson, who had one hit and two strikeouts.

ASTROS 8, INDIANS 2

CLEVELAND — Charlie Morton remained unbeaten this season with six solid innings, Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians.

ORIOLES 9, WHITE SOX 3

CHICAGO — Dylan Bundy struck out a career-high 14 and pitched a two-hitter for his second complete game in the majors, helping the Baltimore Orioles beat the White Sox.

REDS 5, PIRATES 4

CINCINNATI — Eugenio Suarez hit a grand slam off Ivan Nova — who dropped his sixth straight start against Cincinnati — and Jesse Winker added a solo shot for the Reds against Pittsburgh.

ATHLETICS 4, MARINERS 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Piscotty and the Athletics tagged Felix Hernandez early, and Oakland ended Seattle’s five-game winning streak.

RAYS 6, RED SOX 3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Blake Snell threw six scoreless innings, Wilson Ramos drove in two runs, and the Tampa Bay Rays avoided a threegame sweep.