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Bullpen keys Orioles' victory over Blue Jays

Apr 22, 2007 - 3:54 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Orioles' bullpen is doing its job.

Miguel Tejada drove in two runs and three relievers held the Blue Jays scoreless for 3 1/3 innings as the Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2, to earn their third consecutive victory.

Chad Bradford and the Baltimore bullpen saw to it that starter Adam Loewen (2-0) got the win.

"A lot of outings in the bullpen feel like that - you come in with guys on base and want to get out of a jam," Bradford said. "I was able to get out of the jam tonight. I was able to go in and make quality pitches."

With the Orioles leading, 3-1, in the sixth, Loewen issued back-to-back walks to Lyle Overbay and Aaron Hill with two outs. Royce Clayton's single scored Overbay, cutting the lead to 3-2, and Loewen followed by walking Jason Phillips to load the bases.

Bradford entered and struck out pinch hitter Jason Smith on four pitches to end the threat and stayed in to toss a scoreless seventh inning. He has a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings this season.

"It was a big out. It was actually a major out," Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said. "I thought that out and the three he got in the next inning were extremely important. He did a great job for us."

Danys Baez pitched a perfect eighth and Chris Ray worked around a hit in the ninth for his sixth save of the season.

Loewen allowed two runs and five hits while striking out four in 5 2/3 innings. However, the lefthander issued a career-high seven walks.

"Not really," said Loewen, when asked if his walks concerned him. "I was just trying to hand the ball off to the bullpen. I battled my butt off and gave us a chance to win."

Toronto starter Josh Towers (1-2) allowed five runs, nine hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings.

While the Orioles' bullpen has been a strength thus far, the Blue Jays' bullpen has appeared to struggle without closer B.J. Ryan. The lefthander, who had 38 saves last season, is on the disabled list with a left elbow strain.

"(The bullpen) hasn't been that bad," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "What's been magnified is the point of the game where it happens - you know it's late, there's not a whole lot of game left. A little hit here, or three, makes a big difference."

Gibbons wasn't around to watch his bullpen perform as he was ejected in the fifth inning by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi for arguing balls and strikes.