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Bass helps Orioles snap long losing streak

Sep 28, 2008 - 3:24 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Brian Bass tossed six stellar frames as the Baltimore Orioles snapped a 10-game losing streak with a rain-shortened 2-1 victory in 6 1/2 innings over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bass (4-4) allowed one run and three hits in the rain-soaked game, which was delayed 90 minutes in the top of the seventh before being called.

"Bass pitched a real nice game," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He kept the ball down and got his curveball across for strikes. He got past the fifth inning, which is a big hurdle for him.

"He's always kind of had a problem getting past the fifth. He made some big pitches. It's good to get a win. It's been a while."

The righthander struck out three en route to notching his first win in four outings since the Orioles acquired him from the Minnesota Twins on September 5.

"He stayed with keeping the ball down, especially to lefthanded hitters," Trembley said. "I think his breaking ball was real good to lefthanded hitters. I think what's got him in trouble the last couple of times he pitched, especially against lefthanded hitters, he tried to elevate his fastball."

Bass was relieved in the top of the seventh by Lance Cormier, who surrendered a leadoff double by Lyle Overbay before the umpires stopped play.

"Mother Nature helped us, and Lord knows we needed all the help we can get," Trembley said. "We'll take it. We got the hits when we needed it. We made the plays in the field. Guys made good plays. Right when the game started, the field was not good. It was tough conditions to play on out there."

Melvin Mora hit an RBI single in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. It was his 103rd RBI of the season, one shy of his career high set in 2004.

Brandon Fahey lifted a sacrifice fly an inning later to put Baltimore ahead for good. The Orioles had dropped nine straight one-run decisions.

The Orioles' 10-game losing streak was their longest since a 12-game skid in August 2004. They also had lost 29 of 35 and entered this contest 4-19 this month.

Brad Wilkerson belted a solo homer in the first for the Blue Jays, who have dropped four of six.

Former Oriole John Parrish (1-1) yielded two runs and nine hits in five innings but was another victim of poor run support. Toronto has amassed a total of 10 runs over its last seven losses, scoring three or less in each of the setbacks.

"I was just trying to throw strikes and get them to swing the bat early," Parrish said. "That's what I try to do. I had a good changeup today, and I used it a lot. I felt good about the start."