Orioles return to Toronto on opposite end of standings

BOSTON - The Orioles are back in Toronto tonight for the first time since their 11-inning loss in the wild card game. They're facing left-hander Francisco Liriano, who earned the win in relief that night.

Wonder if anyone will find a good storyline?

At least Ubaldo Jiménez can't come out of the bullpen. He started last night in Boston and won't be available after throwing 104 pitches in 4 1/3 innings.

Toronto lost again last night and is in last place in the American League East with a 1-7 record, the worst start in franchise history through eight games. The Orioles sit in first place at 5-2.

The Orioles' 12 runs last night marked their highest total at Fenway Park since May 31, 2004, when the scored 13. The five home runs were their highest total here since they hit six on Oct. 1, 1977.

Kevin Gausman will make his third start of the young season after allowing a combined six runs and 13 hits with seven walks over 10 innings. He faced the Blue Jays on opening day and was charged with two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Gausman is 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA and 1.450 WHIP in 13 career games (eight starts) against the Blue Jays and 0-3 with a 5.59 ERA and 1.586 WHIP in eight games (five starts) at Rogers Centre.

José Bautista is 1-for-15 lifetime against Gausman. Russell Martin is 4-for-10, Kevin Pillar is 5-for-12, Ezequiel Carrera is 5-for-11 with a double and home run, Darwin Barney is 4-for-8 with a home run and former Oriole Steve Pearce is 3-for-5.

Liriano has some catching up to do. He's made one start and it lasted only one-third of an inning. The Rays worked him over for five runs, three hits and four walks on April 7.

Liriano is 2-4 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.552 WHIP in nine career starts against the Orioles. Welington Castillo is 6-for-19 with two home runs and seven walks, Adam Jones is 8-for-22 with a double and three home runs and Chris Davis is 3-for-6 with a home run.

Mark Trumbo has four hits in 21 at-bats, including a double and two home runs.

Davis homered, doubled and singled last night and is 10-for-26 (.385) in seven games. He batted .235 (20-for-85) last April and sustained an injury to his thumb that hindered him all season.

It remains a positive development that Davis is driving the ball to all fields. His home run last night traveled to right-center, he doubled to left and dumped a broken-bat single to center. He flashed power to left-center field on the homestand.

"He seems relaxed, seems like he's having a good time out there and not pressing and just going out there and just playing," said outfielder Craig Gentry, a longtime friend and teammate in Baltimore, Texas and the minors.

"I haven't played with him every day for quite a few years, but this is how he was back when I played with him. It's definitely a good sign."

Manager Buck Showalter has stated that he likes having Gentry with Davis, though there are plenty of actual reasons why the veteran outfielder broke camp with the team. But it's a nice byproduct.

"We're a lot alike," Gentry said. "We've known each other for over 10 years now and were both in each other's weddings and we're really close on and off the field. When you have that kind of relationship with somebody throughout the baseball season, it makes everything a lot easier.

"I'm ecstatic to get to be with him and get to hang out with him whenever I want and get to see him and spend that time with him. He's a good friend of mine and I feel like we support each other and that's nothing but positive stuff."

Davis gained more attention on the homestand for his defense, especially his ability to scoop balls out of the dirt to prevent errors. Teammates constantly point out how he tends to unfairly get overlooked.

"It's like a young player coming up - Manny (Machado), Jonathan (Schoop) - as long as you can defend and impact our games every night, you can go through the peaks and valleys offensively," Showalter said. "If you can't defend, you just can't run guys out there with that many ups and downs. Chris impacts our team every night.

"Another thing that separates him is his ability to throw. He's a fearless thrower, too. He's engaged in the defense. It kind of breeds.

"It starts with J.J. (Hardy). It really does. He's constantly engaged. If I was MASN or ESPN, I'd follow J.J. around during a BP session, from the time he walks on the field until the game starts. His preparation to play defense that night. It's methodical. And it rubs off on people.

"There's such a lure to give yourself a day off. I was watching a couple days ago, it's cold and it's nasty and most people might take three or four and call it a day. It's almost like if he doesn't do that, he doesn't feel like he's ready."