Jays top Birds to improve to 8-0 vs. the Orioles

The Toronto Blue Jays did two things Saturday night that they have been doing a lot this season. They hit two more home runs and once again, they beat the Orioles, as their pitching staff, as usual this season, held the O's hitters in check. Toronto is now 8-0 vs. the Orioles on the year after their 3-2 win in front of 28,518 at the Yard.
Major League homer leader Jose Bautista hit number 25, a two-run shot off Jason Berken in the 8th, that put the Jays ahead by the 3-2 margin they won by. That was after Fred Lewis led off the game with a solo shot off Jeremy Guthrie, who otherwise pitched shutout ball, but still doesn't have a win since May 25th. That is because Bautista drove a Berken 1-0 pitch, 422 feet to left center, right after a Yunel Escobar single. It was just the fourth homer allowed by Berken in 52 2/3 innings. Toronto leads the Majors with 139 homers and now has its first eight-game win streak vs. the Orioles since June of 2003. Cesar Izturis had a two-run single in the fifth for the Orioles, who have scored just 15 runs vs. Toronto on the year and just nine over the last seven games. Nick Markakis, batting .366 this year vs. left-handed pitching, hit into a double play vs.southpaw Scott Downs, with runners on first and third and one out in the eighth. Izturis grounded out with the bases loaded and two outs in the last of the ninth to end the game. The O's fall to 29-61 on the year, 16-27 at home and 9-29 vs. AL East teams. Coming Sunday morning, I'll publish some quotes from Andy MacPhail and his "state of the Orioles" address on Saturday at Camden Yards with season ticket holders.