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Richmond nabs first win as Blue Jays top Orioles

Sep 27, 2008 - 4:00 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Scott Richmond pitched six stellar innings to earn his first major league win as the Toronto Blue Jays posted a rain-shortened 3-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.

The game was called in the top of the seventh after a 65-minute delay.

Making his fifth career start, Richmond (1-3) scattered four hits - all singles - and struck out three without walking a batter.

"I got a complete game shutout for my first win. It was pretty good," Richmond said. "I've been battling all year, excited where I've gotten to this year and it's good to go out on a high note. I feel like I can compete at this level and help the team win."

The 29-year old righthander, who had not completed six full innings in any of his previous outings, matched scoreless frames with Baltimore starter Chris Waters over the first five innings.

"Richmond pitched himself a good game," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "We finally scored some runs for him. It looks good for us next year. He threw strikes. I was very pleased with the way he pitched tonight."

The Blue Jays stranded baserunners in each of the first four innings before tallying a run against Waters in the sixth. Jose Bautista singled to lead off the frame and Alex Rios followed with a walk, but was forced out at second on a double play off the bat of Vernon Wells.

Adam Lind followed with a walk and Scott Rolen delivered a ground-rule double to left-center, scoring Bautista and giving Toronto a 1-0 lead.

Richmond allowed two hits over the first five innings, but was forced to pitch out of a jam in the sixth. After he retired the first two batters, Richmond surrendered consecutive singles to Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora before getting Aubrey Huff on a foul pop-up to retire the side.

"We just didn't have any offense," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "We had one real chance there with two outs and back-to-back, two-out hits but we didn't push anything across. Unfortunately it ended that way and then the rain came."

Curtis Thigpen opened the seventh with his first career home run and Bautista added an RBI groundout later in the frame to push the lead to 3-0 before the game was called.

Waters (3-5) allowed three runs, nine hits and two walks in six-plus innings. The rookie lefthander, who struck out six, has lost four of his last five decisions.

"He's done okay," Trembley said. "For a guy that didn't come to spring training, he's a couple years removed from arm surgery. He's pitched in some big venues, he's pitched in front of some big crowds and he's done all right for himself."