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Jones, Orioles rally in eighth, defeat Blue Jays

Jun 7, 2008 - 4:00 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Adam Jones blasted a two-run homer in the eighth inning to cap a six-run rally as the Baltimore Orioles recorded a 6-5 comeback victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Melvin Mora also hit a two-run shot and Kevin Millar added a solo homer in the decisive eighth while Nick Markakis collected four hits for the Orioles, who have now won four of their last five contests.

"We've had our struggles on the road so to come off a win, two out of three in Minnesota, then come here and win the first one, especially in the manner that we won it tonight, I think speaks highly for what the guys are doing as a team," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said.

With Baltimore trailing, 4-0, entering the eighth, Brian Roberts started the rally with a leadoff double off Shaun Marcum, chasing the Blue Jays starter from the game. Baltimore then feasted on Toronto's bullpen, blasting three home runs off relievers Brian Tallet and Armando Benitez (0-1).

"When you come into the game, you come in to do the job," Benitez said. "I feel bad because Marcum did a good job."

After Markakis' RBI single, Mora cut the deficit to 4-3 with his 10th home run of the season. After a pitching change one batter later, Millar tied the game with his 11th blast.

"(When) Kevin Millar hit the home run and to tie the game, I was more excited than when I hit the homer because I know we can come back," Mora said.

Luke Scott then drew a walk and Jones sent Benitez's 0-1 offering over the left-center field wall to give the Orioles a 6-4 edge.

Dennis Sarfate (3-1) was the beneficiary of the rally, picking up the win after retiring the final batter in the seventh.

Toronto got a run back in the bottom of the frame on Matt Stairs' RBI groundout, but Baltimore closer George Sherrill worked around a walk in the ninth for his 21st save of the campaign.

"If we get beat 7-0, I don't know if it makes it better or not," Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen said of the manner in which they lost. "It all counts on the same column."

Marcum pitched seven-plus innings, allowing one run and seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Rod Barajas and Brad Wilkerson delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the second for the Blue Jays, who have lost three straight and five of their last six contests.

Kevin Mench drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the third and David Eckstein did the same in the eighth to provide Toronto with a 4-0 lead.

Orioles starter Brian Burres surrendered three runs and five hits with three walks and a strikeout over 4 1/3 frames.