A crazy, crazy sixth inning (scoring change and O's lead)

Let's recap what happened in the sixth inning - the good, the bad and the ugly. Brian Matusz lost his shutout with two outs in the top half when first baseman Nick Johnson failed to backhand Eric Thames' bouncer along the line. Johnson, known for his defense and on-base percentage, whiffed on the ball as two runs scored. Thames was given a triple. Johnson was given an earful by fans already agitated by his failures at the plate. A single and walk put Matusz in hot water, but Edwin Encarnacion flied to center field for the second out. Thames appeared to be the third out, but he ended up on third base. The Blue Jays' 2-1 lead lasted two batters. Nick Markakis doubled for his third hit of the night. Adam Jones followed with a bouncer to the left side, and shortstop Yunel Escobar threw the ball away, allowing Markakis to score and Jones to take second. Jones was credited with an infield hit, but no RBI. Orioles 2, Blue Jays 2. Jones was thrown out at third base on Matt Wieters' grounder to Escobar. Chris Davis and Mark Reynolds struck out to end the inning. Matusz is done after six innings, and he'll have to settle for a no-decision. He's charged with two runs and five hits, with two walks and three strikeouts, in six innings - his longest outing of the season. Matusz threw 92 pitches, 63 for strikes. He deserved to take a shutout into the seventh. Darren O'Day has replaced Matusz. Update: Thames no longer is being credited with a two-run triple. Johnson has been charged with an error, leaving Matusz with two unearned runs and four hits over six innings. That's more like it. Update II: Adam Jones led off the bottom of the eighth by homering on reliever Casey Janssen's first pitch. That's six homers for Jones, tying Matt Wieters for the team lead. Orioles 3, Blue Jays 2. Luis Ayala is warming, so he's the closer tonight. Update III: Matt Wieters singled and Chris Davis launched a two-run homer. Orioles 5, Blue Jays 2.



Homers by Jones and Davis in the eighth carry the ...
Matusz's hot start, Johnson's dubious mark, Flaher...
 

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