Aquino allows one run in four innings (O's win 2-1)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1

Recap: Jayson Aquino allowed one run and three hits in four innings, with one walk, four strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 63 pitches, 41 strikes. ... Ryan Flaherty tripled to center field with one out in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on Cedric Mullins' sacrifice fly. ... Chris Johnson had a two-out RBI single in the first inning after Jays starter Francisco Liriano walked two batters and struck out two. ... Donnie Hart tossed a scoreless fifth, allowing an infield hit, and Stefan Crichton retired the side in order in the sixth with one strikeout. ... Mychal Givens stranded a runner at third after Sean Coyle's error to keep the game tied. He struck out one. ... Jimmy Yacabonis retired the side with two strikeouts in the eighth.

Need to know: Craig Gentry walked in the first inning and stole second and third base. ... Robert Andino reached on an infield hit and stole second base in the second inning. ... Chance Sisco threw out J.B. Woodman trying to steal second to end the second inning. ... Center fielder J.B. Woodman charged Johnson's sinking liner and made a great diving catch to rob him. ... Pedro Álvarez singled in the eighth and was thrown out trying for a double.

On deck: Monday vs. Red Sox in Sarasota, 1:05 p.m.

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DUNEDIN, Fla. - Left-hander Jayson Aquino made his bid today to win the fifth starter's job, holding the Blue Jays to one run over four innings and striking out four batters.

It wasn't on Gabriel Ynoa's level from last night, but still pretty good.

Aquino threw 63 pitches, 41 for strikes, and kept the ball on the ground. Only one fly ball in four innings, which Joey Rickard ran down near the left field line in the fourth.

The Jays were swinging through more pitches as the game progressed. They collected three hits, including Melvin Upton Jr.'s leadoff double in the first inning that was followed by two ground balls and only the second run off Aquino this spring.

Aquino walked one batter and hit one before left-hander Donnie Hart replaced him to begin the fifth. He hadn't gone more than three innings in any of his relief outings.

Upton's double came on Aquino's third pitch, a ground ball between Chris Johnson and the bag. Justin Smoak singled with two outs, but was stranded.

J.B. Woodman singled with two outs in the second, but catcher Chance Sisco threw him out trying to steal. Russell Martin drew a two-out walk in the third, but Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out. Goins was hit with two outs in the fourth and came out of the game.

Aquino has surrendered two runs and 10 hits in 15 innings, with two walks and 14 strikeouts. He hasn't hurt his chances of making the April 15 start, but there's still lots for manager Buck Showalter to sort through before arriving at a decision.

Asked before the game to detail what makes Aquino so effective, Showalter feigned disgust over the possibility of jinxing the lefty before replying, "It's not that we missed on him, but he's an interesting guy for me because there's a whole different look to him this spring.

"He comes in on a waiver claim and shows up in Seattle, we didn't know him, there wasn't a whole lot ... he didn't know anybody. It just wasn't a good read. And this spring I'm seeing a different guy. He's got some personality to his pitching, he's added the slider and breaking ball, something Ramon (Martinez) and him worked on in the offseason. Changeup has always been a plus-pitch for him.

"I'm really looking forward to watching him pitch today because this is a really good test for him. If he presents himself well, this could bode well for us. He's had a good spring from the get-go. If he could top it off with a good outing today, that would be interesting. But there are a lot of things to like about him. He's only 24, too, and he's left-handed. But he's got a way to defend himself against right-handed hitters."

Do the Orioles prefer Aquino as a starter or could he be available in a relief role?

"Yes," Showalter replied.

"Prefer him as a starter. It's just like, say, a (Ryan) Mountcastle, make him play his way off the premium position. He'll present himself as a starter for the near future. I see his stuff playing better as a starter than a reliever initially."

The Orioles gave Aquino a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on two walks, two stolen bases and Johnson's two-out bouncing single into left field. Craig Gentry and Trey Mancini walked. Gentry was responsible for both steals, giving him five this spring. Rule 5 pick Aneury Tavárez leads the club with seven.

Rickard led the club last season with four and he didn't play after July 20.

Robert Andino reached on an infield hit and stole second base in the second inning, but left-hander Francisco Liriano retired the next 10 batters and exited the game.

Center fielder Adam Jones is expected to return to the spring lineup on Thursday against the Tigers in Sarasota, the final Grapefruit League game on the schedule.

Update: Donnie Hart tossed a scoreless fifth, striking out one batter, and Stefan Crichton retired the side in order in the sixth with a strikeout. Mychal Givens is working the seventh with the score tied 1-1.

Here's a sampling of Aquino:

On whether it was tough to keep emotions in check:

"I just tried to concentrate on making my pitch and throwing my breaking ball and tried to throw it low in the zone."

On whether he's pleased with outing:

"I feel good. More importantly, I felt concentrated, just concentrated on my pitches, the pitches that I have to make regardless of the lineup that I have to face."

On all the ground balls:

"Yes, I am a pitcher that I characterize myself for that. That's why I try to pitch low in the zone, so that I could get a lot of groundballs."

On whether, if this is his only start, he's happy with what he delivered:

"I was really never given the opportunity to pitch, to start in spring training, so I'm thankful for this opportunity and I'm really glad that I have this opportunity with the Orioles, so I'm very pleased at what I was able to show today."

On the difference between relieving and starting:

"At the beginning I felt a little bit rusty, but as the game was going on I felt better, more in rhythm with the game. And confident that I was able to have a good game today."

Update II: Ryan Flaherty tripled with one out in the eighth and scored the tie-breaking run on Cedric Mullins' sacrifice fly.