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Hernandez's first major league homer sends Orioles to win

Sep 28, 2007 - 3:31 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - Luis Hernandez hit the go-ahead two-run homer - his first career home run - in the sixth inning, sparking the Baltimore Orioles to an 8-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night.

Playing in his 28th career game, Hernandez hit a 1-1 pitch into the left field stands off Blue Jay reliever Brian Tallet (2-4) to give Baltimore a 6-5 lead. It was his first home run at any level this season.

"I just tried swinging to hit the ball hard," Hernandez said. "It was awesome. I hit the ball (pretty well), and it went out, but I never thought the ball would go that far."

Toronto led, 5-4, entering the sixth. Josh Banks, who was making the first major league start in his hometown, allowed a one-out single to Jay Payton before being lifted for Tallet. The reliever was able to retire pinch hitter J.R. House before surrendering Hernandez's critical shot.

"It seemed to change the momentum," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "We've seen just about everything the last 35 or 40 games - so it's nice to get something favorable."

Baltimore has won just 10 of its past 36 games since its awful 30-3 loss on August 22. Banks was excited, pitching in front of several hundred friends and lots of loud family members.

"First start - it was all right," Banks said. "All I can do is build off it. You've got to try and keep the game as close as you can."

"(Banks) is a very composed kid," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "He handled himself very well out there."

Corey Bradford relieved Jim Hoey (3-4) and bridged the one-out gap to Jamie Walker, who pitched the final two innings for his seventh save of the year in 13 opportunities.

Payton, who had three hits, slammed a two-run home run in the second - his sixth of the year and first since August 22 - for a 2-0 first-inning lead. The Orioles took a 4-0 lead in the fourth on a single by Tejada, a double by Aubrey Huff, a sacrifice fly by Melvin Mora and a single by Payton.

The Blue Jays did not get a runner past first base until the fifth inning off Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, who had not started since September 9 due to a strained left oblique, when they batted around and closed to 4-3.

The righthander surrendered runs on three consecutive at-bats before being lifted at the end of the inning.

Aaron Hill, who greeted Hoey with a double to open the sixth inning, later scored when Payton - anticipating a play at the plate on Hill - dropped a sinking liner to left by John-Ford Griffin. Payton was given an error and Griffin was credited with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 4-4.

Griffin took second on a single by Ray Olmedo, moved up on a passed ball and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.