More notes and quotes from Orioles' blowout win Friday at Toronto

TORONTO - The Orioles put an end to one impressive Toronto Blue Jays streak last night. Until their 10-2 loss to the Orioles on Friday, the Blue Jays had allowed seven or fewer runs in all 42 games since the All-Star break and were 31-11. The 42-game streak was a club record and the longest in MLB this year.

Last night's loss for Toronto was also the first time they have lost by more than three runs since July 4 in an 8-3 defeat at Detroit. The Blue Jays have given up 10 runs seven times this year, twice at home against the Orioles, who also beat them 13-9 June 21.

The Orioles hit back-to-back homers for the fourth time this year last night, and Chris Davis has been involved in all four.

The Orioles have scored 17 runs in winning two straight games. They had scored a total of 12 runs in losing the previous six games. So, yeah, a little inconsistent. The Orioles have six doubles and seven homers the past two games.

He walked six last night, but Ubaldo Jimenez also gave up just two runs over 5 2/3 innings to a team scoring 5.5 per game for the entire season. He also did this for an O's rotation that entered this series with an ERA of 7.62 the previous 10 games and 5.87 the previous 33 games.

Davis became the first Oriole to ever have two 40-homer seasons last night. Now, he has 28 games remaining to add to his 40 homers and 100 RBIs. In going 6-for-13 the past three games, with five homers and eight RBIs, he improved his slugging percentage from .519 to .549 and his OPS from .855 to .888. Yep, in just three games.

Mike Wright (2-3, 4.99 ERA) gets the start for the Orioles today. On the disabled list with a left calf strain, Wright was activated Friday after making two solid rehab starts with Triple-A Norfolk, in which he allowed one run over 10 innings.

Wright wants a much better outing than he had in his start at Rogers Centre on June 19. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings and gave up four runs and four walks.

Does he depend more on the scouting reports for an outing like this against such a good hitting team?

"It is always what you do well," Wright said. "Sometimes the scouting reports can get in your head and you try to make a pitch up that you don't have. So, yeah, just definitely pitch to your strength."

Before Friday's game, a Toronto reporter tried to get O's manager Buck Showalter to comment on some of the emotional outbursts the O's-Blue Jays matchup has provided earlier this year and over a few seasons involving players like Darren O'Day, Adam Jones and Jose Bautista.

Showalter was asked if it's a big rivalry.

"Not that I know of," he said. "It's always competitive with any team in the major leagues. You see teams in your division so much, there are not many secrets. They're very good. I know how people like to try and drum up stuff. It's not even a topic with us. As with all the challenges we have, those things are not at the top of your list."

Minors matters: Triple-A Norfolk picked up a very big win last night over second-place Gwinnett by a 3-1 score. It gives Norfolk a first-place lead of two games with three to play and a magic number of two to win the division.

Right-hander Terry Doyle (4-1) gave up just three hits over eight innings. He needed just 86 pitches to navigate the outing, as he retired 20 of the final 21 batters he faced.

The victory was Doyle's 16th of the season between Double-A Bowie and Norfolk, making him the first Orioles minor leaguer to register 16 wins in a year since Brad Bergesen in 2008. Doyle's 16 wins rank second in all of Minor League Baseball, trailing the 17 registered by Tampa Bay farmhand Jacob Faria.

Short season Single-A Aberdeen posted a dramatic 3-2 win at home last night over Lowell. Aberdeen is tied with Hudson Valley at 38-35. The two teams are a 1/2-game behind first place Staten Island at 38-34 with three games left. Aberdeen scored three runs in the ninth last night to post its second straight walk-off win.

Those were two big wins Friday night by the Tides and IronBirds as they try to make the playoffs with the regular season set to end Monday.