TORONTO — Joe Saunders and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, J.J. Hardy drove in two runs and the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 4-0 yesterday.

“[Saunders] was the difference today,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said.

The Orioles, trying to close in on the AL East-leading Yankees, won for the eighth time in 10 games. They had lost four in a row at Toronto.

Acquired recently from Arizona, Saunders (1-1) retired the first 17 batters before Adeiny Hechavarria lined a two-out single to center in the sixth inning.

Saunders bounced back nicely from his Baltimore debut, when he allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the White Sox.

Adam Jones had two hits and Nick Markakis reached three times for the Orioles.