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Blue Jays-Orioles Preview

Apr 9, 2010 - 4:02 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Toronto (1-1) at Baltimore (0-2), 3:05 p.m. EDT

It's unlikely Vernon Wells will be able to keep up his torrid home-run pace in his second series of the season.

Then again, there's no team he's enjoyed more success against than the Baltimore Orioles.

Wells and the Blue Jays try to end a five-game losing streak at Camden Yards and spoil the Orioles' home opener Friday.

Judging by his first three games of the new season, Wells appears ready to put a disappointing 2009 in the past.

After finishing with 15 homers and 66 RBIs last year - his lowest totals in a full season - the center fielder battered Texas for four home runs and seven RBIs in helping Toronto win two of three.

Wells hit a game-tying homer off closer Frank Francisco in the ninth inning Thursday to ignite a three-run rally in the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory.

Bothered by a nagging wrist problem last year, Wells became the first Blue Jay to homer in each of the first three games of the season.

"When you're hitting home runs, they come in bunches," he said. "It's all a timing issue. If you keep your timing, it helps with the pitch location."

Wells had not homered in three consecutive games since Aug. 23-26, 2008, and has never gone deep in four straight.

"He's been awesome, absolutely great," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "It's just what we needed. You don't expect him to hit home runs like that, but something close would be nice."

The Orioles (1-2) know all too well just how productive Wells can be. He is a career .305 hitter against them, and his 29 homers and 96 RBIs versus Baltimore are his best totals against any opponent. Wells, though, struggled at Camden Yards last season, batting .231 with two RBIs.

Toronto lost eight of nine at Baltimore in 2009, compiling a 5.91 ERA.

The Orioles suffered 4-3 losses in their first two games of the season at Tampa Bay, but closer Mike Gonzalez got into and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning Thursday night before preserving a 5-4 victory.

"From what I understand and the people that I talk to, more times than not he's going to keep you on the edge of your seat," manager Dave Trembley said. "It's not always pretty, but he gets it done."

Nolan Reimold homered and Garrett Atkins drove in two for Baltimore, which has won eight of nine home openers.

Matt Wieters has started the season with three consecutive multihit games, going 6 for 12.

Brandon Morrow makes his Blue Jays debut after he was acquired from Seattle on Dec. 23 for reliever Brandon League and minor league outfielder Johermyn Chavez.

Morrow was shuttled between the rotation and the bullpen for the Mariners last season, going 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 26 appearances. He allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 10 starts.

Morrow has pitched 7 1-3 scoreless innings against the Orioles in seven relief appearances.

Brad Bergesen starts for Baltimore despite being slowed during spring training by a strained right shoulder capsule suffered while filming a team commercial. The right-hander was impressive as a rookie, going 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts before his season ended when he took a liner off his left shin July 30.

Bergesen is 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays.