Blue Jays beat Orioles 5-2 in 11 innings in wildcard game

[October 05, 2016]  (The Sports Xchange) - Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in the American League wildcard game on Tuesday.

The Blue Jays will open the American League Division Series on Thursday against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.

Baltimore left-hander Brian Duensing struck out Ezequiel Carrera to open the bottom of the 11th. Duensing was then replaced by right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who gave up singles to Devon Travis and Josh Donaldson that put runners at the corners.

Encarnacion then ended the game with the first-pitch home run.

Orioles starter Chris Tillman allowed four hits, one walk and two runs and struck out four in 4 1/3 innings.

Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman allowed four hits and two runs with six strikeouts in six innings.

Jose Bautista hit a solo homer for Toronto.

Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer for Baltimore.

Blue Jays right-hander Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect top of the ninth before Donaldson led off the bottom of the inning with a double to left against Brad Brach.

Encarnacion was walked intentionally. Bautista struck out. Right-hander Darren O'Day replaced Brach, and Russell Martin grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Osuna retired Chris Davis on a fly ball to right to open the 10th before leaving with an apparent injury.

Left-hander Francisco Liriano took over from Osuna and retired the final two batters of the 10th and also worked a perfect 11th for the win.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion (10) hits a walk off three run home run against Baltimore Orioles to give the Jays a 5-2 win in the American League wild card playoff baseball game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

After Stroman retired the first six batters, Bautista led off the bottom of the second with his fifth career postseason home run, drilling a 3-1 fastball to left field. It gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.

Trumbo put the Orioles into a 2-1 lead when he homered to left on a first-pitch fastball.

Tillman retired eight consecutive batters after the home run before walking Bautista with two outs in the fourth.

Carrera tied the game 2-2 with a single to center. Mychal Givens replaced Tillman with runners at the corners and one out. Givens' first pitch resulted in a 5-4-3 double play grounder from Devon Travis.

(Editing by Andrew Both)

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