Toronto's Nathan Lukes, right, celebrates with Addison Barger and Bo Bichette after hitting a three-run home run to score them all during the seventh inning against Baltimore on Wednesday.Stephanie Scarbrough/The Associated Press
Nathan Lukes capped Toronto’s five-run seventh inning with a three-run homer, and the Blue Jays held on for a 9-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday to avoid a four-game sweep.
Toronto’s AL East lead was down to four games after dropping the first three of this series against the last-place Orioles. And the Blue Jays fell behind 3-0 early in the finale before rallying.
Bo Bichette delivered a two-run single off Yennier Cano (1-6) to put Toronto ahead 6-5 in the seventh. Three batters later, Lukes came up as a pinch-hitter and connected off Cano.
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The Orioles answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but with the bases loaded and one out, Braydon Fisher came on and struck out Cedric Mullins and pinch-hitter Ramon Laureano to preserve a one-run lead.
Seranthony Domínguez pitched a scoreless eighth one day after being traded from the Orioles to Toronto. Then Jeff Hoffman finished for his 25th save in 29 chances.