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Seven-run fourth enough for Blue Jays to beat Orioles

Jul 10, 2008 - 4:25 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- If A.J. Burnett tried to impress scouts of contending teams who were looking to pry him away from the Toronto Blue Jays before the trading deadline, he sure didn't succeed on Wednesday.

The righthander nearly blew a large lead against the Baltimore Orioles, but the Blue Jays' seven-run fourth inning was strong enough for them to hold on for a 9-8 victory.

"We're going out there and finding a way to win games, that's the bottom line," Blue Jays shortstop David Eckstein said. "It doesn't matter how it ends up, but the end result is most important and today we were able to find a way to get another victory."

Supported by an offensive explosion against Garrett Olson, Burnett (9-8) was strong in the first five innings, allowing one run and two hits while striking out seven.

However, he crumbled in the sixth.

Melvin Mora and Ramon Hernandez each had run-scoring singles prior to Adam Jones' three-run homer, which capped the rally and cut Baltimore's deficit to one run at 8-7.

"It's quite embarrassing to come out and start like I started, and then get in that kind of situation where I'm not pitching like I'm supposed to pitch and not making my pitches," Burnett said. "It makes you think, 'What's going on?' So I must get back to the drawing boards to figure it out."

In the fourth, Eckstein sparked the Blue Jays with a bases-loaded, two-run double to give them a 4-1 lead. Marco Scutaro followed with a walk and Alex Rios connected on an infield single, which scored two. Vernon Wells added an RBI infield single to give Toronto a 7-1 advantage.

Olson (6-4), who was lifted for Lance Cormier, surrendered seven runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Cormier got Rod Barajas to ground into a fielder's choice, ending the 12-batter hit parade.

Scott Rolen smacked an RBI single in the seventh to score Wells, who suffered a leg cramp prior to the hit that gave Toronto a 9-7 lead. Wells was replaced by Brad Wilkerson in the following inning and is considered day-to-day.

Nick Markakis blasted a solo home run in the ninth off Toronto closer B.J. Ryan, who held on for his 17th save.

"We battled back," Markakis said. "We did a good job, but fell one run short."