Manufacturing a lead (Cruz extends RBI streak, O's win 11-4)

Except for Jonathan Schoop's long home run to left field, the Orioles aren't mashing the ball tonight. They're getting on base, taking the extra base and taking the lead against the Blue Jays. David Lough is the poster child for manufacturing runs. He walked in the fifth inning, stole second base, raced to third on a fly ball to left and scored. He doubled with one out in the seventh, stole third base and scored. Oh yeah, and he's playing Gold Glove defense in left field. The Orioles moved ahead 7-3 in the seventh, batting around and putting Bud Norris in position for the win. Norris allowed three runs in six innings for - wait for it - a quality start. Lough and Nick Markakis, who drew a four-pitch walk off left-hander Brett Cecil, executed a double steal. Nelson Cruz was walked intentionally, and Chris Davis followed with a two-run single to left field. Davis has three RBIs tonight on singles to left against the infield shift. Small ball from the big guy. Cruz scored on Adam Jones' double to center field. Davis and Jones raced home when Matt Wieters flung his bat at a slider from Esmil Rogers and poked a soft single into left field. Yes, Wieters has two more hits tonight from the left side of the plate. Zach Britton worked the seventh and retired the Jays in order on seven pitches, all of them strikes. This game is in the bullpen's hands. The Orioles deserve a big one tonight for the manner in which they scored seven runs. Update: Cruz is on fire. His two-run single in the eighth inning increased his team-leading total to 23. He's got at least one RBI in seven consecutive games and has totaled 10 in this series. The last Oriole to record an RBI in seven straight games was Mark Reynolds in September 2012. Doug DeCinces holds the club record with 11 straight games from Sept. 22, 1978 to April 6, 1979. The Orioles' lead ballooned to 11-3 on Jones' two-run single. Jones and Davis each have three RBIs tonight. Update II: Josh Stinson finished up and the Orioles finished off the Blue Jays, winning 11-4 to finish above .500 on the road trip. I'm almost finished here. The Orioles are 11-10 after going 9-6 in a 15-game stretch against division opponents. The Orioles have scored at least 10 runs in consecutive games for first time since Aug. 14-15, 2008 at Cleveland and Detroit.



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