Recap: Toronto vs. Baltimore

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Joe Saunders' second start as an Oriole went much better than his first.

Saunders pitched into the seventh inning and the Orioles took the opening game of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-0.

Saunders (1-1), who gave up seven runs -- six earned -- in 5 1/3 innings after coming over from the Arizona Diamondbacks, gave up three hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. He did not allow a base runner until surrendering a two-out single in the sixth inning.

"Pitchers are creatures of habit," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's getting back in a routine."

Nick Markakis doubled home a run and scored to send the O's to their eighth win in their last 10 games.

J.A. Happ (3-2) had a string of three straight winning decisions snapped after giving up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits with nine strikeouts in five-plus innings.

"He's got good late life," Showalter said. "He bent, but he didn't break. He gave them a chance to win today.

"I was trying to be pretty selective with the pitches I threw to keep us in the game the best I could," Happ said. "Unfortunately, they chased me out of there quicker than I would have liked."

Baltimore took the lead in the second inning after Manny Machado lofted a fly ball down the right-field line. Moises Sierra was unable to make a sliding catch, allowing the ball to roll to the fence and Machado to reach third.

After the error, Nate McLouth dropped down a bunt to score Machado and gave the O's an early lead.

The Orioles tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Robert Andino led off with a base hit and scored when Nick Markakis sliced a double down the left-field line. J.J. Hardy knocked in Markakis with another double to left, opening up a three-run advantage.

Adeiny Hechavarria singled in the sixth to finally give the Blue Jays a base runner but, after reaching second when Rajai Davis walked, he was stranded.

Edwin Encarnacion walked and Adam Lind singled to start the seventh inning. After Yunel Escobar grounded into a fielder's choice, Kelly Johnson ripped a single to right to load the bases and chase Saunders from the game.

Luis Ayala came on to strikeout Sierra and got an inning-ending pop up from Jeff Mathis to escape the jam.

Baltimore capped the scoring in the eighth inning when McLouth was hit by a pitch, reached second when Andino walked and scored on a Hardy base hit.

Pedro Strop and Jim Johnson retired the Blue Jays in order in the eighth and ninth innings to wrap up the win.