O's game blog: It's Gallardo against Sanchez in series finale

The Orioles host Toronto tonight in the finale of this three-game series and everyone knows the math involved. An Orioles win moves them two games behind the first-place Blue Jays, while a loss drops them four games back.

The Orioles (72-60) won 5-3 last night after losing Monday's game 5-1. The Birds hit three homers last night as Steve Pearce, Manny Machado and Matt Wieters connected. Machado hit his 100th career homer and Wieters' two-run shot in the eighth broke a 3-3 tie.

The Orioles have hit 32 homers in their last 14 games, homering at least once in 13 of the games. They have homered in five consecutive games, hitting 11 total home runs.

Machado has 10 homers this month and became the third Oriole with double digit home runs in August, joining Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo, who each have 10. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marks the fourth time in MLB history that a team had three players reach 10 home runs in the same month.

The first to do so was the Giants in July 1947 (Willard Marshall, 11; Johnny Mize, 11; Bobby Thomson, 10). In August 1996, the Rockies did so (Andres Galarraga, 12; Ellis Burks, 10; Vinny Castilla, 10). In August 2015, the Blue Jays accomplished the feat (Josh Donaldson, 11; Edwin Encarnacion, 11; Jose Bautista, 10).

On the mound tonight, right-hander Yovani Gallardo (4-6, 5.69 ERA) pitches against right-hander Aaron Sanchez (12-2, 2.99 ERA).

Gallardo had an ERA of 3.38 in his first four August starts, but then lasted just 1 1/3 innings Friday at New York, in the shortest start of his career. He gave up six hits and eight runs (seven earned), throwing 41 pitches. In two starts this year versus Toronto, he is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA. In five career starts, he is 4-1 with a 3.03 ERA.

Sanchez was recalled from the minors today. He was optioned to Single-A Dunedin and reported there but didn't pitch for the team and 10 days later he is back with Toronto.

He ranks third in the American League in ERA and is pitching for the first time since Aug. 20 when he gave up four runs in four innings against Cleveland. He has an ERA of 5.29 his past three starts. In three starts this season against Baltimore, he is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA. In 11 career games (six starts) he is 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA and 1.641 WHIP.

Shorebirds stars: Two players from the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds were named to the South Atlantic League's season-ending All-Star team. They are left-handed pitcher Brian Gonzalez and catcher Yermin Mercedes, who is now with Single-A Frederick.

The 20-year-old Gonzalez has gone 9-8 with an ERA of 2.51 in 25 starts. Gonzalez ranks third in the league in ERA, has an ERA of 2.08 this month and leads Delmarva with 16 quality starts.

Over 139 1/3 innings (he is second in the league in innings) he has allowed 127 hits with 54 walks, 103 strikeouts and a 1.30 WHIP. Gonzalez was a third-round pick and the O's top selection in the 2014 draft.

Mercedes left the Shorebirds on Aug. 1 with the Sally League's highest batting average (.353), best slugging percentage (.579), second highest on-base percentage (.411) and fourth most home runs (14). He totaled 383 plate appearances, which surpassed the 376 necessary to qualify for the league batting title at the end of the season. So he is probably going to win the league's batting title and remains first today, 31 points ahead of the next closest hitter.

Furthermore, in his last 41 games with the team (dating back to June 11th), Mercedes raised his average from .321 to .353 by going 60-for-152 (.392) with 10 home runs, one triple, 14 doubles and 30 RBI.

In 25 games since joining Frederick, he is batting .279 with five homers, 15 RBIs and an .838 OPS. He currently has an eight-game hitting streak for Frederick.