Orioles 8, Blue Jays 2: J.J. Hardy homered, drove in two runs and scored three times as host Baltimore spoiled the return of Brandon Morrow and clinched the three-game set with Toronto.

Adam Jones and Matt Wieters added two RBIs apiece and rookie Steve Johnson struck out seven in six strong innings for the Orioles, who maintained their grip on the second wild card spot in the American League.

Morrow (7-5) was activated from the 60-day disabled list by the Blue Jays and looked strong early, striking out four through the first two innings. The right-hander ended up striking out seven while allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings.

Toronto handed Morrow a lead when Edwin Encarnacion hit his 34th home run - a two-run blast - in the first inning off Johnson. Baltimore fought back to tie it in the third, with Nick Markakis scoring on shortstop Yunel Escobar’s error and Wieters following with a sacrifice fly.

Markakis and Hardy led off the fifth with back-to-back hits and both came in on Jones’ one-out single to left to give the Orioles the lead.

Hardy made it a 6-2 cushion in the sixth when he took a 2-1 offering from right-hander Chad Jenkins into the front row in left-center, just out of reach of Rajai Davis’ leap.

Johnson (2-0) made it stand up in his second career start, allowing two runs on four hits while walking a pair.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Toronto RF Jose Bautista, who was activated off the disabled list on Friday, left the game in the second inning with discomfort in his left wrist. Bautista, who had been sidelined by a sprained left wrist since mid-July, was placed back on the DL and is scheduled to see a hand specialist Sunday. … Orioles DH Chris Davis, who hit three homers on Friday, went 1-for-3 with a strikeout. … Baltimore DH Jim Thome (neck) may need a second epidural on a herniated disk in his neck. He has been on the DL since July 31. … Blue Jays 1B David Cooper (back) missed his third straight game.