Major League Baseball

'Scary' Orioles hitters beat up on Blue Jays again

Published Apr. 24, 2014 10:14 p.m. ET

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Adam Jones called Baltimore's lineup "scary" after back-to-back double digit outbursts against Toronto.

The Blue Jays pitching staff wouldn't disagree with that assessment.

Chris Davis had two hits and three RBIs, Jonathan Schoop homered and the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 11-4 Thursday night.

Baltimore, which beat Toronto 10-8 Wednesday, scored 10 or more runs in consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 14 and 15, 2008, when the Orioles did it against Cleveland and Detroit.

"We're going to hit," Jones said. "That's how our lineup is designed. Our lineup is scary and it's fun to see it click the last couple of nights."

Nelson Cruz had two hits and drove in two runs for the Orioles, extending his streak of games with at least one RBI to seven.

"The guys got into that pass the baton mode that we talk about," manager Buck Showalter said. "When we get into that, we're in good shape."

Cruz had three homers and 10 RBIs in the three-game series against Toronto. He has 22 RBIs in April, a career high for the month.

"I know he's got something to prove," Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said. "We really like how he fits into our lineup."

Bud Norris (1-2) pitched six innings to win for the first time in three road starts this season. Norris allowed three runs and five hits, walked one and struck out four.

Zach Britton worked 1 2-3 innings and Josh Stinson got the final four outs.

Trailing 3-2, Baltimore batted around in a five-run seventh against three Blue Jays relievers.

Neil Wagner started the inning by getting Schoop to line out, but left after ninth-hitter David Lough doubled. Brett Cecil (0-1) came on and walked Nick Markakis before the runners advanced on a double steal. Cruz was intentionally walked to load the bases for Davis, who hit a two-run single through the shift on the left side.

Jones chased Cecil with an RBI double and Esmil Rogers came on to face Wieters, who singled home two runs despite dropping the bat on his follow-through.

"I actually have done that before, but not very often," Wieters said. "It's a good way not to roll over."

The runs off Cecil were the first he'd allowed this season. The left-hander came in having worked 8 2-3 scoreless innings in 10 appearances.

"I didn't feel like I had a good feel for anything," Cecil said. "I was pulling my cutters, my curveballs were up and not as sharp."

The Orioles piled on with four more off Rogers in the eighth, with Cruz and Jones each hitting two-run singles.

"They kept the pressure on us all night," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.

The Blue Jays scored 21 runs against Baltimore, their highest total in a three-game series this season, but only won one game.

Toronto took a 3-0 lead in the second when Dioner Navarro hit a leadoff homer off Norris, his first. Two batters later, Colby Rasmus drilled a two-run shot.

"It's challenging not to panic when you're down 3-0 against such a lethal offensive team," Showalter said, "but Bud kind of settled in, and guys kept working good at-bats and passing it to the next guy."

Baltimore sliced the gap to one with a two-run fifth. Schoop hit a leadoff homer, David Lough followed with a walk, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Davis.

Hutchison allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, matching his longest outing of the season. He walked one and matched a season high with nine strikeouts. Hutchison, who had elbow surgery in 2012, threw a season-high 102 pitches, 63 strikes.

NOTES: Gibbons said he's considering using a six-man rotation at times in May and June. The Blue Jays have four off days in April but just one in May and three in June. LH J.A. Happ is a candidate to move into the rotation. ... Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (elbow) will throw another 40-pitch bullpen session Friday. Bundy threw breaking balls Wednesday for the first time since having surgery. ... Fans booed when two men seated behind home plate unfurled a Montreal Canadiens flag in the eighth. ... Baltimore opens a three-game series at home against Kansas City on Friday, with RH Ubaldo Jimenez (0-3) facing Royals RH Yordano Ventura (1-1). ... Toronto hosts Boston Friday in the opener of a three-game series. LH Mark Buehrle (4-0) will face RH Jake Peavy (0-0).

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