Toronto scores seven in the sixth to avoid the sweep

The Orioles chance to come up with their first three-game series sweep at Toronto since April of 2005 evaporated today during the Blue Jays last of the sixth when Toronto scored seven times against Brian Matusz and Kevin Gregg. Toronto beat the Orioles 9-2 to salvage the series finale as the Orioles fall to 2-1 on this road trip and 5-4 on the season.

Toronto came up with the seven runs on six hits along with three walks and a hit batter. The seven runs in one inning was more runs than the Orioles had allowed in any single game this year. They began today second in the American League in team ERA at 2.84. The Orioles began the inning with a 2-1 lead but fell behind 3-2 when Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer off a Matusz 83 mph curveball. Gregg came on with the score 3-2 and runners on first and second and proceeded to give up in order an RBI single, a two-run single, an RBI double and then two walks to load the bases. When he hit Brett Lawrie it forced in another run and made it an 8-2 game. Matusz saw two inherited runners score charged to his record and pitched 5 2/3 allowing seven hits and five runs with four walks and strikeouts. He allowed two homers in falling to 0-2 on the year with an ERA of 8.38. He threw 106 pitches. Winning pitcher Kyle Drabek gave up two runs over 7 1/3 and improves to 2-0 with an ERA of 1.42. The Orioles scored on a Ronny Paulino RBI ground out in the second and took a 2-1 lead on an Adam Jones long solo homer to left in the sixth. It was Jones' third homer of the year and the Orioles 14th. After winning despite going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position yesterday, the Bird went 0-for-6 again today in that stat. Now the Orioles head to Chicago for a four-game series and the second leg of a three-city road rip. The series begins Monday night when Jake Arrieta (1-0, 2.63) pitches against Philip Humber (0-0, 0.00).