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Blue Jays LHP Parrish faces former team

Jul 10, 2008 - 12:59 PM Baltimore (44-45) at Toronto (44-47) 7:07 p.m. EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Toronto Blue Jays starter John Parrish faces the team that first drafted him on Thursday when he takes the mound against the Baltimore Orioles.

Parrish (1-0, 1.50 ERA), who is making his second spot start in place of the injured Shaun Marcum (right shoulder soreness), posted a 12-12 record and 4.57 ERA in six seasons with the Orioles before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in the middle of the 2007 campaign.

The 30-year-old lefthander signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays during the offseason and made his first start since 2004 on June 28, allowing one run and four hits in six innings en route to a 9-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Parrish now hopes to help the Blue Jays claim a three-game series sweep by handing the Orioles their fifth straight loss.

Jeremy Guthrie (5-7, 3.61) tries to end Baltimore's slide when he takes the mound on Thursday.

Guthrie has lasted at least six innings in each of his previous four starts, posting a 2-0 record over that span. The 29-year-old righthander allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings on Friday, helping the Orioles claim a 10-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Toronto is ranked 13th in the American League in runs, but has scored 16 over the first two games of the series.