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Nearing elimination, Blue Jays host Orioles

Sep 16, 2008 - 1:11 PM Baltimore (66-82) at Toronto (80-70), 7:07 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- With their playoff hopes fading, the Toronto Blue Jays will take on the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

The Blue Jays lost three of their four meetings with the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, squandering a three-run lead in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader before ace Roy Halladay failed to lead Toronto to a split in Sunday's 4-3 loss.

With the setback, the Blue Jays are now nine games behind the Red Sox (89-61) and Tampa Bay Rays (88-60), who are tied for the top spot in the American League East and wild card race with 12 games remaining.

Toronto starter Shaun Marcum (9-6, 3.38 ERA) will seek his fifth win in his last six decisions. The righthander gave up two runs and five hits with six strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings during Thursday's 6-4 triumph over the Chicago White Sox.

The Orioles will counter with rookie Chris Waters (2-3, 5.73), who is making his ninth career start. The lefthander is trying to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.

Nick Markakis and Oscar Salazar hit two home runs apiece Sunday as Baltimore cruised to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Despite the win, the Orioles have lost four of their last six contests.