Surging Orioles pound Jays

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Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 10 games, and the Baltimore Orioles scored six runs in the seventh inning as they hammered the Toronto Blue Jays 11-3 on Tuesday night.

The Orioles (57-88) honoured Buck Showalter at Camden Yards with a T-shirt night, very appropriate for the manager who bettered his record to 25-15 with the Baltimore club. He holds the best record in the AL East since he started on Aug. 3, and the second-best record in the American League over that time.

Every Oriole starter recorded a hit in the game and Robert Andino got his first three RBIs of the season on a seventh-inning double after an error by Jays’ reliever Josh Roenicke that broke the game open.

Roenicke came on in relief of David Purcey with two runners on and one out. After allowing two straight hits and a walk, Roenicke induced a short ground ball from Josh Bell. The right-hander tried to turn a double play to end the inning, but couldn’t get a hold on the ball, scoring a run and loading the bases for Andino.

Baltimore tagged Roenicke for four runs (three earned) and he didn’t record a single out for Toronto (73-72).

But it was the lack of Toronto’s offence that really spoiled a good start by Mississauga, Ont., native Shawn Hill. The right-hander (0-2) allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts over 5 2/3.

The Jays have yet to score a run in support of Hill as he takes his second loss in as many games.

The other Hill, Aaron, cashed all three runs for Toronto in the top of the eighth as he hit his 24th home run of the year, extending the team’s homer streak to 16.

Jake Arrieta (6-6) was on the mound for the Orioles, facing the Jays for the first time in his career. He lasted six innings and gave up no runs, scattering only four hits with five strikeouts.

Markakis smacked 10th home run of the year after extending his hitting streak with a single in the first inning. The homer in the fifth was only his second extra-base hit of the streak.

Adam Jones also homered with a two-run shot for Orioles in the bottom of the eighth. Jones had three RBIs on the night, getting one during a Baltimore rally in the seventh inning.

Ty Wigginton started the rally after hitting a leadoff double to right field. He then gestured to the umpire to get the ball from Jose Bautista after the play. The hit didn’t appear to be a milestone in Wigginton’s career, but he was insistent on getting the ball.

Andino got the start at second base with Brian Roberts out of the game. Roberts left Monday night’s game after being hit in the right thigh by a pitch.

After losing 12 straight games to Toronto this year, Baltimore has taken the first two of this three-game series. The Jays have still outscored the Orioles 76-38 on the season, and hold 25-10 homer run advantage.

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By: Alexis Brudnicki
Posted: Sep 14 2010 10:46 pm
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