Sport News Blog

The Toronto Blue Jays failed to extend their winning streak beyond three games, losing 4-3 to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night in the first of two games at Camden Yards.

Kevin Millar homered and drove in three runs for the Orioles (8-5), losers in four of their previous five games.

A sliding Joe Inglett is forced out at second base by Orioles shortstop Luis Hernandez in Monday's 4-3 Blue Jays loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.
(Gail Burton/Associated Press)

"The team is back on track," he said.

Ramon Hernandez had the other run batted in, and rookie Adam Jones smacked three of Baltimore's 13 hits.

"Jones shows you what kind of makeup he has," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "The first time I talked to him, I had no concern on my part.

"I know he is going to have his bad days like everyone else. But I think he is going to be special — he has a good makeup, and he had good at-bats tonight."

Alex Rios hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the ninth inning for the Blue Jays (7-6), fresh off a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers.

Vernon Wells singled twice, drove in a run and scored a run. 

"They outpitched us, outplayed us and outhit us," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "But we hung tough."

Toronto starter Dustin McGowan was tagged with the loss.

McGowan (0-1) was charged with three runs on 10 hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

He is 0-3 in seven appearances versus Baltimore.

"You could say they hit me pretty well," McGowan said. "I guess everybody has got a team like that."

Matt Albers lasted five innings in a spot start for Baltimore, having pitched three times out of the bullpen this season.

Albers (2-0) limited the Blue Jays to one run on five hits, walking one and whiffing one. 

"I'm here for whatever the team needs," he said. "I will probably be back in the bullpen the next couple days and I will be ready to go.

"I'm just trying to help this team win. That is the main thing."

"We were satisfied with what he did for us," Trembley said.

George Sherrill recorded the final three outs for his sixth save, but not before serving up a single to Wells and the pinch-hit homer to Rios. 
 
"We made a run," Gibbons said. "We made a scare."

Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on consecutive singles from Fredericton's Matt Stairs, Aaron Hill and Wells.

Baltimore tied it in similar fashion in the bottom of the frame as Brian Roberts singled, advanced to second base on Melvin Mora's single and, one out later, scored on Millar's RBI single.

It remained 1-1 until Nick Markakis drew a two-out walk in the fifth and Millar homered to left field off McGowan.

"I just hung a curveball," McGowan said. "He crushed it."

"The guy had a 96-97 mph fastball," Millar said. "He was pounding me in.

"I was sitting on a breaking ball. It seemed like, with runners in scoring position, he always went to that and I got one."

The Orioles went ahead 4-1 in the eighth inning as Aubrey Huff hit a leadoff single off reliever Brian Tallet, raced to third base on Luke Scott's single and scored on Hernandez's sacrifice fly off reliever Jason Frasor.

With files from the Canadian Press Post a commentPeople have commented on this storyRecommend this storyPeople have recommended this storyStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKStory comments (0)Sort:Most recent | First to last | Most recommended

0Post your comment

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are pre-moderated/reviewed and published according to our submission guidelines.

Comment:Characters allowed: 2500PostSubmission policy