Alvarez homers but Gallardo struggles in loss

TORONTO — There’s a new team atop the standings in the American League East: the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto took over the top spot in the division following a 9-1 victory over the Orioles on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre. It’s the first time the Blue Jays have been in first place since April 4, which was the second game of the regular season.

Baltimore led by as many as 5 1/2 games on June 29, but it has been evaporating ever since. Boston briefly took over first place earlier this month, and now it’s the Blue Jays who have jumped in front after the Orioles lost their fifth consecutive game. The Red Sox dropped to 1 1/2 games back of Toronto pending the result of Saturday night’s game against the Angels.

Devon Travis went 2-for-4 with a home run during a seven-run fifth inning while every member of the starting lineup reached base at least once except for Melvin Upton Jr. The Blue Jays scored at least nine runs for the 15th time this season. Lefty J.A. Happ picked up the win after he allowed just one run over seven-plus strong innings.

Designated hitter Pedro Alvarez provided one of the lone bright spots for Baltimore. Alvarez hit a solo homer in the second, but that was the only offense the Orioles could generate off Happ. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo was saddled with the loss as he gave up five runs on five hits and could not pitch his way out of the fifth.

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