• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Lind drives in three as Blue Jays top Orioles

Jul 23, 2008 - 3:41 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Two lesser known Toronto Blue Jays came up big on Tuesday.

Adam Lind had a career-high four hits and John McDonald chipped in with four RBI to lead Toronto over the Baltimore Orioles, 10-8.

Lind's sixth-inning, three-run homer gave the Blue Jays, who had lost 14 of their previous 18 road games, a 9-7 lead. Lind also contributed two singles and a double.

With Toronto trailing 7-6 in the sixth, Lyle Overbay singled with one out against Fernando Cabrera (0-1). Scott Rolen walked and, after Alberto Castillo replaced Cabrera, Lind hit his fifth home run to right field to give the Blue Jays the lead for good.

"I was trying to hit it hard and see it up in the zone over the plate," Lind said.

The four hits all came off left-handed pitchers, and Lind continued his hot hitting since being recalled on June 21 from Triple-A Syracuse.

In the 22 games since his recall, Lind is batting .346. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was a day after Cito Gaston replaced John Gibbons as Toronto manager.

"It was time to make a change after about a year of struggling in the big leagues," Lind said. "When you say Cito Gaston is your manager, even my friends from back home say 'listen to this guy. He knows what he's talking about.'''

Gaston has elevated Lind in the batting order. He batted seventh for the fifth time.

"If he continues to hit, I'll move him up a little bit more," Gaston said.

Lind says that it doesn't matter where he is in the order - as long as he plays.

"I'll play wherever he puts me in the lineup," Lind said.

The two runs were the first off Cabrera in eight appearances this season. The righthander relieved starter Garrett Olson, who allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Jesse Carlson (2-1), who relieved Shaun Marcum, picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Marcum, who was making his first start after missing five weeks with a sore right elbow, allowed seven runs - six earned - in 4 2/3 innings.

"We let them back in the game, and we just couldn't stop them," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "

Shawn Camp pitched a scoreless seventh, Scott Downs a perfect eighth and B.J. Ryan earned his 19th save in dramatic fashion. Ryan allowed a ninth-inning run and loaded the bases with two outs before retiring Ramon Hernandez on a fly out.

The Blue Jays had overcome a 4-0 deficit and taken a 6-4 lead thanks to a five-run, fifth inning, highlighted by Alex Rios' sixth home run and a bases-loaded double by McDonald. McDonald also drove in Toronto's first run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly.

"The way we've been playing, we've kind of been on the edge," McDonald said. "To be able to come back after we were down 4-0, and come back and end up scoring 10 runs is pretty good for our club."

Melvin Mora led the Orioles with four hits and five RBI, including his 15th home run - a two-run shot in the fifth. He has four home runs and 14 RBI in his last six games.

"I see the ball better. I feel good at home plate right now," Mora said. "I like to get RBI. I've been doing that all year long, and I don't know what the surprise is."

Nick Markakis hit a two-run home run in the first off Marcum - his 15th and his fifth in 16 at-bats against Marcum.