Baltimore, MD – After belting four home runs, the Toronto Blue Jays prevailed Wednesday afternoon behind some small ball.
Maicer Izturis walked with the bases loaded in the top of the 11th inning, as the Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Baltimore closer Jim Johnson (1-2) retired the first two batters in the 11th before giving up consecutive singles to J.P. Arencibia and Munenori Kawasaki and hitting Brett Lawrie with a pitch.
Johnson then tossed four straight pitches to Izturis that were out of the strike zone.
Casey Janssen recorded two strikeouts while securing his sixth save of the season in the bottom of the frame.
The Blue Jays took a 5-2 lead into the seventh, only to see Baltimore rally with a three-spot.
Nolan Reimold drew a one-out walk and scored on a double by Ryan Flaherty, the third hit off Toronto starter Brandon Morrow and first since Adam Jones doubled home Nate McLouth in the first inning. McLouth had led off with a two- bagger of his own.
Flaherty's hit ended Morrow's outing, as he was replaced by Aaron Loup. McLouth brought home Flaherty with a two-out single and Manny Machado tied the game with a triple to the gap in right-center.
The O's had a couple of chances to win the game in walk-off fashion. After stranding a runner on third base in the ninth, Machado was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Rajai Davis while trying to score on J.J. Hardy's single off Esmil Rogers (1-1).
Baltimore recalled Josh Stinson from Class-A Frederick to make his second major league start. The right-hander gave up only five hits in 5 2/3 innings. However, four of them were driven over the outfield wall.
With the Blue Jays down 1-0, Arencibia launched a two-run homer in the second and Davis added a solo shot in the third.
The Orioles trimmed their deficit to 3-2 without a hit in the bottom of the third. After McLouth drew a one-out walk, Lawrie fielded a ball hit by Machado, but his poor throw placed men on the corners. McLouth then scored when Nick Markakis grounded into a fielder's choice.
Edwin Encarnacion led off the fourth with a blast to left and Jose Bautista matched him to open the sixth.
Game Notes
Toronto manager John Gibbons was ejected by home plate umpire Mike DiMuro after Lawrie was called out on strikes to end the top of the ninth inning ... Stinson was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game ... The Orioles were 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
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