• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Jays, Drabek hope to salvage finale with Orioles

Apr 15, 2012 - 2:40 PM (Sports Network) - Toronto right-hander Kyle Drabek takes the mound with a chance to stave off an early-season three-game sweep when the Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of their series at Rogers Centre.

A native of Victoria, Texas, Drabek was the 18th overall pick of the 2006 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies before heading to Toronto in the deal that sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies in December 2009.

His father, Doug, won the NL Cy Young in 1990 with the Pittsburgh Pirates after going 22-6 with a 2.76 earned run average.

The younger Drabek made his big-league debut with the Blue Jays in 2010, losing decisions in all three starts with a 4.76 ERA in 17 innings.

He was 4-5 in 18 appearances last season, but won his first outing of 2012 after pitching 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball in a 7-3 defeat of Boston on April 10.

In two career meetings with the Orioles, Drabek is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA.

Baltimore won its second straight in the series on Saturday when Nolan Reimold blasted a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning in a 6-4 triumph.

Wilson Betemit also homered for the Orioles, while Chris Davis added three hits, two RBI and a run scored.

Luis Ayala (1-0) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win and Jim Johnson faced the minimum in the ninth for his fourth save of the year.

Francisco Cordero (0-1) gave up Reimold's blast to suffer the loss. Colby Rasmus knocked in a pair and Kelly Johnson had a solo shot as Toronto dropped it fourth decision in its last six games.

Neither starter factored in the decision as Jason Hammel allowed two runs on six hits and a walk in five innings for Baltimore, while Henderson Alvarez gave up three run on six hits and a walk through seven full frames for the Blue Jays.

Baltimore goes for the sweep behind 25-year-old lefty Brian Matusz, who skidded from 10 wins in 2010 to just one in 2011, then was hit hard in losing his initial outing of 2012.

The fourth overall pick of the 2008 draft lasted just four innings against the New York Yankees on April 9, allowing six hits and four runs while walking four and striking out one in a 6-2 loss.

He's 0-2 in three career starts against Toronto with an ugly 18.56 ERA - allowing 11 earned runs on 14 hits in only 5 1/3 innings.

Toronto has gone 27-11 versus Baltimore since the start of the 2010 season, including victories in 15 of 20 at home.

On this the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier Major League Baseball is commemorating this special occasion by having all players and on-field personnel once again wear the Hall of Famer's No. 42, as well as other pregame festivities.