“Everything’s about pitching here at this level”, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.
Advertisement
For the time being, so did Baltimore’s stay in first place. “Hopefully it gets us going a little bit and we kind of lighten up and loosen up a little bit, start swinging the bats better”.
SAN FRANCISCO – Matt Cain didn’t think his 100th career victory would mean much to him until he finally got it. That gave the Blue Jays a half-game lead over the Orioles in the division.
The Mets won for just the second time in the last seven games to remain 2 1/2 games behind the Miami Marlins in the race for the National League’s second wild card, but it may have been a costly victory. Alvarez scored when Schoop singled to left with one out. After J.J. Hardy walked, Chavez came on in relief and gave up a no-doubter to Jones, his 20th of the season.
Pedro Alvarez accounted for the lone run for the Orioles (58-44) with a home run.
TIGERS 11, ASTROS 0: James McCann capped a six-run first inning with his first career grand slam and Miguel Cabrera homered twice and drove in four runs, helping Detroit complete a three-game sweep and stretch its winning streak to six.
ONDRUSEK DEBUTS: Logan Ondrusek, who was signed before Friday’s game, pitched a flawless sixth inning.
“There is still a lot of baseball left, but I feel like we are starting to play good ball”.
Asked whether he can play with it, Gibbons said. “I could throw, but wasn’t able to grip a bat”.
Tillman allowed five hits, three walks and two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer in the third for the Nationals, who couldn’t protect an early 3-0 lead hours after acquiring All-Star closer Mark Melancon from Pittsburgh to replace the struggling Jonathan Papelbon. “That’s a good ballclub”. They’ve got good people in the bullpen. “They picked me up big time today, hats off to them”.
Orioles starter Yovani Gallardo (3-3) allowed five hits, five walks and five runs in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three.
Showalter said Givens had a flat breaking ball. Toronto loaded the bases with just one out, but Tulowitzki popped out and Martin struck out to keep the game scoreless. We’re playing good defence.
The only bench player with options is Josh Thole and the Blue Jays obviously can’t go without a backup catcher. Russell Martin doubled with one out and took third on Kevin Pillar’s infield single to third. The 24-year-old leads the American League with a 2.71 earned-run average. Jonathan Schoop delivered the Birds’ first hit with a man in scoring position, ripping an RBI single to plate Alvarez from second.
Darren O’Day entered the game and ended the inning on Pillar’s popout to first.
Tulowitzki was hit on the fingers of his right hand by Tillman in the sixth inning. He came on at 3B after Darwin Barney moved to SS to replace Tulowitzki in the eighth. The prognosis was that he would be out four to six weeks but the Orioles hope that he could return sooner….
Starting with their series in San Francisco Aug. 12, the Orioles will play 22 consecutive games against teams that are now. Orioles RHP Dylan Bundy (3-3, 3.46 ERA) will face Rangers RHP Yu Darvish (2-2, 3.09 ERA) on Tuesday….
Advertisement
Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (8-4, 4.92) starts the opener of a four game-series at Houston.
