Rajai Davis drives in 3 runs to lead Jays over Orioles

TORONTO -- Rookie Adeiny Hechavarria drove in the go-ahead run with a bunt single, Rajai Davis homered and had three RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Wednesday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Steve Delabar (4-1) worked one inning of relief for the win as the Blue Jays snapped a four-game slide and ended Baltimore's winning streak at three.

Adam Jones hit a solo home run and Mark Reynolds added a two-run drive off Casey Janssen in the ninth, his sixth in six games and 18th of the season, but it wasn't enough for Baltimore.

The Orioles return home Thursday for a pivotal seven-game homestand that begins with four against the New York Yankees, followed by three against Tampa Bay. The three teams were separated by 1 1/2 games atop the AL East entering play Wednesday.

Adam Jones got the Orioles on the board with a leadoff homer in the second, his 27th. Blue Jays right-hander Brandon Morrow loaded the bases by walking three of the next four batters before Manny Machado made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout.

Toronto sliced the deficit in half on Kelly Johnson's RBI double in the bottom half, then tied it in the third when Davis hit a one-out homer to left, his seventh.

Yunel Escobar led off the seventh with a broken bat double to left and moved to third on Johnson's bunt single. Yorvit Torrealba fouled out before Hechavarria dropped down a safety squeeze. Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez charged and tried to scoop the ball to the plate with his glove, but it rolled past Matt Wieters as Escobar slid safely home, giving the Blue Jays their first lead in September.

Luis Ayala came on to face Anthony Gose, who loaded the bases with a single under the glove of shortstop J.J. Hardy. Davis followed with a two-run single to center, with Gose making it 6-2 on Jones' throwing error.

Gonzalez (6-4) gave up five runs, four earned, and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. He walked none and struck out four.

Machado hit a leadoff single in the eighth, chasing Delabar, and Darren Oliver issued a one-out walk to Hardy. Lew Ford pinch hit for Nate McLouth and narrowly missed a double when his fly ball down the left field line fell just foul, with manager Buck Showalter coming out to argue with third base umpire Laz Diaz. Two pitches later, Ford grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Morrow allowed two runs and three hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out six.

NOTES: The Blue Jays plan to skip struggling LHP Ricky Romero the next time through the rotation. Romero, who has lost 12 straight starts, will next pitch Sept. 12 against Seattle, working on nine days' rest. Toronto will then use a six-man rotation for the remainder of the season. ... Orioles LHP Troy Patton (right ankle) threw from 120 feet on flat ground again Wednesday, and will throw off a flat mound Friday, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. There is no timetable for his return. ... Blue Jays minor league RHP Jose Brito of the Dominican Summer League has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for steroids. ... Toronto 3B Brett Lawrie (right ribcage strain) went 0 for 3 with a walk in a rehab game at Class A Dunedin, while C J.P. Arencibia (right hand) went 1-4 as Dunedin was eliminated from the playoffs. Both Arencibia and Lawrie could rejoin the Blue Jays on Friday in Boston.