The Orioles entered Monday night trying to avoid tying a season-high 3-game losing streak. The offense let a golden opportunity slip away in the 3rd, and starter Tommy Hunter had one of his worst outings as an Oriole. Toronto took game one of the three-game series, 6-2.
Hunter was touched up for 6 runs (5 earned), which included a pair of 2-run homers in 3 innings plus. Edwin Encarnacion connected for his 16th home run of the season in the 3rd inning, and lead off hitter Kelly Johnson hit his 9th home run to send Hunter to the showers with none out in the 4th.
As Hunter struggled, so did the O’s offense. Down 2-0 in the 3rd inning, things looked promising. Chris Davis led off with a single to right, and Mark Reynolds, just back from the disabled list, drew a walk.
Robert Andino then looked to bunt, but pulled the bat back for a ball. Davis strayed too far off second base, though, and while he avoided the tag of third baseman Brett Lawrie after a pick-off throw, umpire Kerwin Danley ruled Davis out of the baseline for the first out.
The Orioles would load the bases before Nick Markakis tapped slowly back to mound, where starter (and winner) Drew Hutchinson fielded and threw him out.
The Orioles left two on in the 7th when Andino struck out looking. They broke up the shutout in the 9th with RBI hits from Wilson Betemit and Reynolds.
Jake Arrieta will try to snap the team’s 3-game skid in Toronto tomorrow night, as he goes up against Ricky Romero.
The Good
- Adam Jones extended his hitting streak to 19 straight with a single in the 9th.
- Back from the 15-day disabled list, Mark Reynolds went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and an RBI.
- The bullpen was again very solid, with Dana Eveland and Kevin Gregg combining for 5 shutout innings, 3 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts, and no walks.
The Bad
- Tommy Hunter, who may be pitching himself out of a spot in this rotation, has rarely been worse: 3IP, 9H, 6R, 5ER, 2HR. His ERA is up to 5.59.
- Chris Davis made big baserunning mistake (whether or not he was too far out of the baseline is debatable), as well as another fielding error (#4) on a missed throw.
- Xavier Avery was 0-3 with 3 strikeouts, a walk, and 3 left on-base. With Endy Chavez expected to return from his rehab assignment tomorrow, Avery may be headed back to Norfolk.
The Interesting
- Omar Vizquel’s 4th inning leadoff single was his 2,848th career hit, tying him with Brooks Robinson for 43rd on the all-time list.
