Kevin Gausman allows three homers in the first (Blue Jays win 6-5)

TORONTO - Well, this did not start as a pitchers' duel. These teams picked up where they left off here early last month when, in a four-game series, Toronto outscored the Orioles 30-24.

Tonight, in the first inning, Toronto outscored the Orioles 3-2.

The Blue Jays rocked Kevin Gausman for three solo homers in the first five batters. He took the mound leading 2-0, but Jose Bautista blasted a 422-foot shot to left for his 13th homer. One out later, Edwin Encarnacion hit No. 28 and it went 414 feet. One out later, Troy Tulowitzki's 17th homer traveled 394 feet according to Statcast for a 3-2 lead. Gausman ended the first at 25 pitches.

Gausman's season high for homers allowed in a game is three and that happened in back-to-back starts May 26 at Houston and May 31 at home versus Boston. He's now allowed 19 home runs, but had given up just four homers his past five starts entering this outing.

It is the second time this year Toronto hit three homers in one inning - they previously did it July 6 against Kansas City. It is the 35th time they've done it in team history.

The Orioles had taken a 2-0 lead in the first on Mark Trumbo's two-out, two-run double to right-center. With one down, Hyun Soo Kim dropped a bunt single up the third base line against the shift and Manny Machado walked. After Chris Davis grounded out, advancing both runners, Trumbo drilled a 2-2 pitch from Marco Estrada that gave the Orioles the lead. Trumbo was 1-for-18 his last five games and 6-for-44 over his last 12 before that clutch double.

This game got crazier when Machado walked again in the third inning and then circled the bases to scored on Davis' groundout to third. The Blue Jays left third base uncovered on the play and when catcher Russell Martin ran there, he could not handle a throw trying for the out at third. Machado ran home to tie it 3-3.

But after Gausman fanned two in the second and looked to be regrouping, he allowed three more runs in the third and the O's trailed 6-3. That inning featured a leadoff walk, a throwing error on catcher Matt Wieters and Gausman's second wild pitch of the night. Martin and Kevin Pillar drove in runs that inning and Toronto led 6-3 after three tonight.

The O's cut into that with a run in the fourth. J.J. Hardy's RBI groundout made it 6-4 after a Jonathan Schoop single and a Pedro Alvarez double.

Meanwhile, Vance Worley has come on to pitch the last of the fourth. Gausman allowed six hits and six runs in three innings and 79 pitches. It was not his night.

What a wild start at Rogers Centre. Do the O's have a comeback in them? They're going to need one.

Still down by two: The Oriole have not scored since the fourth and still trail 6-4 after seven and a half innings. Estrada was replaced by Joaquin Benoit to start the seventh. Estrada gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits over sixth and could pick up his sixth victory tonight. Worley kept Toronto off the board with three scoreless on one hit through the last of the sixth to give the O's a chance to make a comeback.

Now down one: Machado hit reliever Jason Grilli's first pitch of the eighth for a home run to bring the Orioles within 6-5. He hit No. 22 out to right field on a 92 mph fastball. They will go to the ninth though down by at least one run. Brad Brach is on in the eighth.

Jays take series opener: Roberto Osuna closed it out in the ninth for his 22nd save as Toronto took the first game of the big weekend series 6-5 in front of 46,112 at Rogers Centre. Toronto moves to within a half-game of the first place Orioles in the American League East.

With the loss, the Orioles fall to 58-44 and have a four-game losing streak. They've scored 10 runs during the streak and 42 runs in going 7-8 in 15 games since the All-Star break.

They are now 21-28 on the road, 1-4 at Rogers Centre this year and 4-10 in Toronto since the start of last year. Toronto improves to 58-45 and has won seven of 10 and 15 of 21 games. A win by Toronto on Saturday afternoon would give the Blue Jays the AL East lead.

Check back later for a final story with postgame quotes from Rogers Centre.