O's game blog: Can Hess duplicate success against Toronto?

The last time right-hander David Hess (2-8, 5.50 ERA) took the mound he pitched well in a loss at Toronto's Rogers Centre. That was on Wednesday afternoon. Now, five days later, Hess goes back to the mound and the Blue Jays are once again the opponent.

In that game last week, Hess went a career-high seven innings and threw a career-high seven strikeouts. He gave up just three hits and one run, and left trailing 1-0 in a game the Orioles would lose 6-0.

Hess had a four-start stretch in June when he gave up 21 earned runs over 17 2/3 innings. But now he's pitched to a 2.08 ERA in his last two starts, and a 2.89 ERA over his past three outings.

In the start in Toronto he threw 90 pitches, and 80 were fastballs or sliders. After the game, he heard praise from manager Buck Showalter.

"Outstanding. Fun to watch," Showalter said. "Had a good delivery and stayed in it the whole time. I think he made two pitches (he'd like to take back). He had a lot of pitches at his disposal. His tempo and the confidence level he had. He's a young pitcher trying to find that consistency that everyone is looking for."

Hess found it during that start, throwing his fourth career start in which he allowed one run or none.

"I think it shows that some things are starting to come together, but I also think that it shows that there's still work to be done," Hess said that day. "You've got to recognize when a step forward is taken, but at the same time, you don't want to be content with that. From a confidence standpoint, it's definitely growing."

Hess has faced Toronto twice this year, allowing eight hits and two runs over 13 innings. Tonight Hess is making his 14th career start and eighth versus an American League East opponent. He is 2-3 with a 4.02 ERA in division games.

Right-hander Sam Gaviglio (3-6, 4.94 ERA) makes his 19th start for the Blue Jays. On Tuesday at home he pitched seven innings against the Orioles, allowing six hits and two runs on 102 pitches. In 11 home starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.68 ERA and .228 average against. In nine road games, he is 1-5 with an 8.38 ERA and has allowed a .340 average and 10 home runs in 37 2/3 innings.

The Orioles are 1-12 this year versus the Jays, losing 10 in a row since their lone win this season at Oriole Park on April 11. They have been outscored 75-35 in the season series, and outhomered 26-13. The Orioles' team average is .210 and team ERA is 5.63 in the season series.

In Baseball America's "Best Tools" issue, the Orioles were represented by their youth. Among the minor league "best tools" category winners were pitcher Cody Carroll, named as the top International League reliever, infielder Kirvin Moesquit, who was the South Atlantic League's best baserunner, and infielder Trevor Craport, named as the South Atlantic League's best defensive third baseman. Outfielder Yusniel Díaz was named the most intriguing prospect at the Futures Game, and Díaz was also named the number two prospect traded at the deadline, while his future teammates, pitchers Luis Ortiz (No. 4) and Dillon Tate (No. 7) were also mentioned.

Toronto slugger Kendrys Morales can tie a major league record tonight. If he hits one out it would be his eighth consecutive game with a homer, tying the record first set by Dale Long in 1956 and matched later by Don Mattingly in 1987 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993. The last Major League Baseball player to homer in seven straight games was Kevin Mench of the Rangers in 2006.

The Orioles know all about this streak, since Morales homered in all three games against them last week. Those were games two, three and four of the streak. Morales went 7-for-12 in that series with four homers and seven RBIs. This year he is batting .410 (16-for-39) against Baltimore pitching with five homers and eight RBIs.