Game update and Gonzalez on Gonzalez (O's fall 5-2)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 2

Recap: Miguel Gonzalez joined Wei-Yin Chen as the only Orioles starters to go three innings this spring. Gonzalez allowed two runs in the first and retired the last seven batters he faced, striking out one. Wesley Wright retired the first four batters before back-to-back doubles by Josh Thole and Munenori Kawasaki in the fifth increased Toronto's lead to 3-0. Mike Wright retired the side in order in the sixth and Zach Britton did the same in the seventh. Darren O'Day survived a leadoff double in the eighth. Eddie Gamboa was charged with two runs in the ninth. The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh against Chad Jenkins. Pinch-runner David Lough scored on Matt Wieters' double play grounder and Steve Pearce had an RBI single. Caleb Joseph singled twice today before Steve Clevenger replaced him. Fatherhood agrees with Joseph.

Need to know: Everth Cabrera bobbled a ground ball in the first and nonchalantly flipped it to first as a run scored, almost pulling Pearce off the bag on a close play. Drew Hutchison shut out the Orioles over four innings after blanking them for two in his other outing. Alejandro De Aza walked and grounded into two of the Orioles' four double plays. Manny Machado made a diving stop and throw to rob Jose Bautista in the sixth. The Blue Jays reassigned former Oriole Jake Fox to minor league camp. Attendance: 7,403, the fifth sellout this spring at Ed Smith Stadium.

On deck: Thursday, at Cardinals in Jupiter, 1:05 p.m.
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SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles scored twice in the seventh inning today against Blue Jays reliever Chad Jenkins and trail 3-2 at Ed Smith Stadium.

They loaded the bases with no outs on J.J. Hardy's single, Chris Davis' walk and Adam Jones' single. Pinch-runner David Lough scored on Matt Wieters' double play grounder and Steve Pearce followed with an RBI single.

Wieters is now 0-for-20 this spring.

The Orioles have hit into four double plays, including two by Alejandro De Aza.

Mike Wright retired the Blue Jays in order in the sixth inning and Zach Britton did the same in the seventh. Darren O'Day is working the eighth.

Third baseman Manny Machado made a diving stop and throw to rob Jose Bautista leading off the top of the sixth.

Miguel-Gonzalez-white-sidebar 2.pngStarter Miguel Gonzalez allowed two runs in the first inning before retiring the last seven batters he faced.

"Obviously, the first inning I was up," Gonzalez said. "Just falling, falling early, rushing a little bit. I had time to work on it on my side and I'll just go from there.

"Hopefully, next time it will be a little better. It wasn't that bad. A couple of hits in the first inning, got some runs."

Asked what he's working on, Gonzalez replied, "Nothing. I'm trying to be myself and just go out there and get my innings in. That's important, and obviously throwing strikes, not trying to walk everyone.

"I was falling behind a couple of guys, just didn't give in. Made some good pitches when I needed to."

Gonzalez is competing for a rotation spot, the math still showing six candidates for five spots.

"The last few years has been like that," he said. "Everyone is getting the opportunity to go out there and do their job. All we've got to do is go out there and do as best as possible. Just be yourself every time you're out there."

Gonzalez didn't want to say much about his placement in the competition and was amused by the media's line of questioning.

"Just do my best every time I'm out there," he said. "Really, that's it. What are you guys trying to tell me? You're putting me on the spot, man."

Gonzalez doesn't think he's got a spot sewn up after posting a 2.19 ERA in his last 11 starts of 2014.

"No. I think Buck (Showalter) knows what he has and actually Dave (Wallace) and Dom (Chiti), but again, you never know," Gonzalez said.

"We have six guys that could pitch in the big leagues or you could see even more. We have guys in Double-A or Triple-A that are probably going to have the opportunity to go out there and pitch."




Wrapping up a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays (Gamboa op...
Gonzalez goes three innings (O's down 3-0)
 

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