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Blue Jays-Orioles Preview

Apr 10, 2010 - 12:01 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (2-1) at Baltimore (1-2), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Though certainly way too early to tell, the Toronto Blue Jays' first week of the season suggests they may be primed to end their road woes.

The Blue Jays look to win four straight road games for the first time since 2008 as they face the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.

Toronto (3-1) was a respectable 44-37 at home last season, but a 31-50 record away from Rogers Centre gave it little hope of competing in the tough AL East. The Blue Jays road mark included eight losses in nine games versus the Orioles, who had the AL's worst record.

Toronto, though, won the opener of this three-game series 7-6 on Friday, rallying in the ninth inning against struggling Orioles closer Michael Gonzalez in the season opener at Camden Yards. Travis Snider doubled in a run and scored the tiebreaker.

"It's nice to come up in a situation like that and deliver for your team," Snider said.

It was the Blue Jays' third straight road win, matching their longest such run from last season. Another victory over the Orioles (1-3) would give Toronto four straight wins on the road for the first time since the final month of the 2008 season.

Vernon Wells had been playing a large role in the Blue Jays' success, but he was limited to a single in four at-bats after hitting four home runs over his first three games.

Instead, Alex Gonzalez provided the power for Toronto, homering in the third inning for his second of the season.

Gonzalez has manned the middle infield without second baseman Aaron Hill (hamstring) beside him the past two games. Hill is day to day.

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts' status is uncertain after leaving in the second inning due to a strained abdominal muscle. If Roberts can't play, Julio Lugo will likely replace him in the lineup, which may need a big game with Dana Eveland (2-4, 7.16 ERA) taking the mound.

Eveland, acquired from Oakland in a trade Feb. 6, struggled last season. The left-hander, however, had a promising spring, going 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings.

He was outstanding in his only start against the Orioles, allowing three hits in seven scoreless innings for Oakland in a 2-1, 10-inning win May 5, 2008.

Baltimore will counter with David Hernandez (4-10, 5.42), who beat out Chris Tillman for the fifth spot in the rotation. Hernandez made his major league debut last season and started off strong, but went 1-7 with a 7.44 ERA over his last 11 starts.

The right-hander went 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 innings during spring training. This is his first appearance against the Blue Jays.

Even if Hernandez can get Baltimore to the late innings with a lead, the Orioles have to be concerned with their bullpen's ability to hold on. Michael Gonzalez has blown two saves in three opportunities and struggled even when he was successful.

Gonzalez has surrendered four runs in two innings. Manager Dave Trembley said he will stick with Gonzalez for now.

"We should have had three wins right now. That's what's getting under my skin," Gonzalez said. "I know at the end of the day I'm going to get this done; it's just a rough start for me right now."