The Orioles traveled north of the border to face the Toronto Blue Jays in a three game series that included some hierarchy changes at the top of the AL East.

Game One: Blue Jays: 6, Orioles: 5

Kevin Gausman got the start for the Orioles and he struggled early on in this game and did not fare well overall. Gausman went three innings allowing six runs on six hits, striking out four, walking three and allowing three home runs; all in the first inning.

Vance Worley relieved him and threw four scoreless innings allowing only one hit with two strikeouts.

Mark Trumbo got the offense going in the first with a two-run double that scored Hyun Soo Kim and Manny Machado.

Down 3-2 in the third, the Orioles added a run in a very entertaining way. With the shift being played on Chris Davis, he hit a slow ground ball into it, leaving only a play to be made at first. Manny Machado went from first to second on that ground ball but then realized nobody was covering third, so he advanced which forced a throw. At that point, Russell Martin was forced to cover third and he could not handle the throw from the first baseman, allowing Machado to score since nobody covered home.

Unfortunately, the Orioles would promptly lose all their excitement by allowing three runs in the bottom of the inning, making it a 6-3 Jays lead.

Down 6-4 in the eighth inning, Manny Machado hit a solo home run to make it a one run game but that would be the end of the scoring for the night.

Game Two: Blue Jays: 9, Orioles: 1

In a game that started not all that bad, it turned bad very fast. Yovani Gallardo got the start for the Orioles and pitched poorly. On the day, he went 4 1/3 innings allowing five runs on five hits while striking out five and walking five.

The lone run on the day came thanks to a Pedro Alvarez solo home run in the second inning.

Logan Ondrusek made his Orioles debut in this game and pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one batter.

Game Three: Orioles: 6, Blue Jays: 2

After losing the division lead by 1/2 a game, the Orioles looked to bounce back and take the lead for themselves once again. Sunday was their best chance with Chris Tillman on the mound.

On the day, Tillman went 5 2/3 allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking three. Overall, not the worst pitching performance you could ask for but not the best.

Down 2-0 in the seventh, the Orioles were able to manufacture two runs thanks to a Pedro Alvarez ground out and a Matt Wieters sacrifice fly, tying the game up at two.

In the top of the 12th, Jonathan Schoop got a base hit to break the tie and give the Orioles their first lead in the game. Several batters later, Adam Jones put an exclamation point on the game with a three run home run, making it 6-2 and giving the Orioles’ reliever a comfort while trying to get the final outs to give the team the win.

Ondrusek worked the last of the 12th and allowed no base runners and got one strikeout, starting off his Orioles career on a high note.

I am just glad the Orioles leave Toronto with the division lead and can go into Tuesday’s game against the Rangers with the worst possible scenario being a tie atop the division.

Speaking of that Rangers series, Dylan Bundy will get things started for the Orioles facing off against Yu Darvish. Game two will feature Kevin Gausman and Cole Hamels with Yovani Gallardo going up against A.J. Griffin in the series finale.