Davis’ home run tear continues
Oriole in all-star company with totals
ORIOLES 8, JAYS 5
BALTIMORE Chris Davis hit his 35th homer, Adam Jones and J. J. Hardy each had a threerun shot and the Baltimore Orioles beat Mark Buehrle and the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 Friday night.
Davis upped his major leagueleading home run total with a two-run drive in the second inning. Only Barry Bonds (39 in 2001), Mark McGwire (37 in 1998) and Reggie Jackson (37 in 1969) hit more homers before the All-Star break.
Jones connected in the third to put the Orioles up 5-3, and Hardy went deep in the sixth for a five-run cushion. All three home runs came off Buehrle, who had allowed only two long balls in his previous 11 starts.
Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman (11-3) gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings. He has won seven of his last eight starts.
After Toronto’s Adam Lind hit a two-run double off Tommy Hunter with two outs in the ninth, Jim Johnson needed one pitch to get his 32nd save.
Buehrle (5- 6) surrendered eight runs and nine hits in six innings to fall to 0-5 against the AL East this season.
J.P. Arencibia and Edwin Encarnacion homered for the Blue Jays, who have lost 12 of 18 since an 11-game winning streak. Jose Bautista struck out four times, three against Tillman.
Toronto went up 2-0 in the second inning when Colby Rasmus doubled and Arencibia connected for his first homer in 18 games since June 18 and No. 16 on the season.
Davis answered in the bottom half with an opposite-field drive to left after Jones led off with a double for the first of his three hits. The home run gave Davis 88 RBIs, breaking Boog Powell’s franchise record of 86 before the All-Star break.
In the third, Encarnacion snapped a 1-for-11 slump with his team-leading 24th homer, a solo shot to left.
Again, the Orioles responded in the bottom half. After Manny Machado and Nick Markakis singled with one out, Jones hit his 17th homer to put Baltimore ahead for good.
Hardy hit his 16th of the season after Jones and Davis singled to open the sixth.
NOTES: Toronto failed to sign Phil Bickford, the 10th overall selection in last month’s amateur draft. That means the Blue Jays will get a No. 11 pick next year. ... The Orioles selected the contract of RHP Jairo Asencio and designated RHP Jair Jurrjens for assignment. ... Jason Hammel, who is 4-1 lifetime against Toronto, will start for the Orioles on Saturday. Todd Redmond will pitch for the Jays. ... The Blue Jays have lost eight of 11 on the road.