Final
Orioles, Blue Jays commence series at Camden Yards
Aug 5, 2011 - 3:03 PMVideo
A 13-game winner for Texas a year ago, Hunter was injured in spring training this year and never really got it going for the Rangers, who sent him to Baltimore as part of the Koji Uehara deal last Saturday.
Hunter, who is 1-1 on the year with a 3.31 ERA, gave up a run in his Orioles debut on Tuesday, but was credited with a hold in his team's 8-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals.
The Orioles lost for the fifth time in their last six games on Thursday, dropping a 9-4 decision to the Royals in the rubber match of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.
J.J. Hardy hit a solo home run for the AL-worst Orioles, while Zach Britton (6-9) dropped his third straight start and was tagged for six runs -- four earned -- on 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
"I don't know why the sink's not there. I've always had sink. Is it I'm getting tired? That's kind of where I'm at right now," said Britton. "I feel like my mechanics are fine. It's just that things aren't sharp out of my hand right now."
Hardy left the game with an ankle injury and is questionable for tonight's affair.
Toronto, meanwhile, also lost on Thursday, falling 7-6 in 12 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Jays had taken the lead in the 10th and 11th innings, only to see the Rays rally before eventually winning it on Robinson Chirinos' RBI single.
Jose Bautista belted his major league-leading 33rd home run of the season in the loss. However, he is a career .191 hitter at Camden Yards with six homers in 28 games.
Toronto's offense, which has tallied three runs or less in four of its last six games, should get a boost with the addition of infielder Brett Lawrie, the team's top prospect, who is expected to make his big league debut tonight at third base.
In 69 games at Triple-A Las Vegas, the third baseman batted .353 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI.
"This is a guy that we've had a lot of expectations on," Toronto manager John Farrell said. "That's not to create more of a hysteria situation, than the attention that's going to follow him, but he has done everything we've asked at Triple-A."
Heading to the hill for the Blue Jays tonight will be lefty Brad Mills, who will be making his second start of the season. Mills lost his initial outing to the Rangers on Saturday, despite surrendering just two runs and six hits in seven innings of a 3-0 loss.
"Regardless of what the radar gun says, he's got life through the zone," Farrell said. "He's got a quick arm, he's got deception. He's got a well-above-average changeup to create some separation and slow some bats down. It's more about the life and the quickness through the zone versus just the raw velocity."
Prior to his callup Mills had been one of the Pacific Coast League's most reliable pitchers and led Las Vegas in innings (130 2/3), ERA (3.99), wins (nine), strikeouts (114) and WHIP (1.29).
Mills beat the Orioles the only other time he faced them last season, scattering a pair of hits over seven scoreless innings.
Toronto has won six of nine meetings with the O's this season and have won 21 of 27 games against them since the start of last season, while posting an 8-4 mark in Camden in that time.
- TORONTO: 5
BALTIMORE: 4
Final
Aug 5 10:07 PM - Aaron Hill sacrifice fly to center scored Adam Lind with one out. On the play, Colby Rasmus advances to second and Edwin Encarnacion advances to third. Runners on second and third and J.P. Arencibia due up.
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 3 Top 8, 1 OutAug 5 9:41 PM - Matt Wieters reached on an infield single to short scored Vladimir Guerrero with one out. Runners on first and second and Nolan Reimold due up.
Blue Jays 4, Orioles 3 Bot 6, 1 OutAug 5 8:59 PM - Aaron Hill grounded into a fielder's choice, short to second scored Edwin Encarnacion with two out. Colby Rasmus out at second. Runner on first and J.P. Arencibia due up.
Blue Jays 4, Orioles 2 Top 3, 2 OutsAug 5 7:57 PM - Yunel Escobar double to center scored Aaron Hill with two out. On the play, Brett Lawrie advances to third. Runners on second and third and Eric Thames due up.
Blue Jays 2, Orioles 2 Top 2, 2 OutsAug 5 7:39 PM - Adam Jones one-out, two-run Home Run (19) to left scored Nick Markakis. Vladimir Guerrero due up.
Blue Jays 0, Orioles 2 Bot 1, 1 OutAug 5 7:23 PM - TORONTO: 0
BALTIMORE: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 5 7:09 PM
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