Wrapping up a 12-5 loss

The Orioles have allowed 10 or more runs in their home opener on three occasions in club history, including today's 12-5 loss to the Blue Jays before a sellout crowd of 45,936 at Camden Yards.

They also lost 12-0 to the Brewers on April 4, 1988 and 13-3 to the Yankees on April 14, 1959.

I wonder if they had rain in the forecast on those two days that also didn't arrive.

"It's disappointing," Showalter said. "You'd have liked to have a closer game and we won. We did some good things that will get overlooked. We were a couple of situations from getting back in it. But (Mark) Buehrle does what he does. It's a perfect situation for him when he's using your aggressiveness against you."

Bud Norris turned in his shortest outing since going two innings against the Cubs on Aug. 23, 2014 at Wrigley Field. However, rain forced his exit from that game.

Norris allowed eight earned runs, one short of his career-high set on May 31, 2012 in Colorado and July 20, 2012 in Arizona.

"He just never got into rhythm like he's capable of," said manager Buck Showalter. "Everything they put the bat on found the hole. Obviously, they hit some balls hard, too. It was one of those days. We all know Bud is capable of better. It will happen. It wasn't there today for sure.

"He made some good pitches today, some quality pitches. Wasn't consistent, never got into anything command enough to make them uncomfortable. He's disappointed. We swung the bats well enough to win or be in that game."

Norris threw 36 pitches while surrendering four runs in the first inning.

"Toronto is one of the better offensive teams in baseball and they swung the bats well in New York," Showalter said. "We knew it would be a challenge for anybody. I was happy with some things that happened today, but obviously we didn't pitch as well as we're capable."

Showalter wasn't going to blame an ominous forecast for throwing Norris off his game.

"That would be a convenient excuse if he or we chose to use it, but wouldn't," Showalter said. "Buehrle gave up some hits like he normally does. You're asked to pitch in a lot of different conditions. Bud pitched well. You don't win the games he's won or done the things he's done in the big leagues without handling some different situations along the way."

Today's game served as an example of why the Orioles usually wait as long as possible before announcing a postponement. The outlook gradually improved.

"I trust that (rain) room back there a lot more than a forecast three days earlier," Showalter said.

"I was happy for the fans that it held off and it wasn't too uncomfortable for them. Toronto probably made it uncomfortable for them, too."

Adam Jones tied his career-high with four hits, coming within a triple of the cycle.

"Adam is one of those guys, he's got enough experience with him that you know if he goes through a rough patch, somebody is going to pay," Showalter said. "Very competitive. Takes a lot of pride being out there, being somebody that we and the fans can count on."

Said Jones: "It's cool, all that individual stuff is cool, but you know me. I'm a team guy. We didn't win, I didn't win. All that individual stuff means nothing if we don't win.

"We got 14 hits, we played our tails off. We just gave up more. It was a great effort. They swung the bats. We did, too, but they scored more runs. We got beat, we didn't lose. We didn't go out there and give it away. We put up an effort, we put up a fight and got 14 hits. I'll take that."

Jones entered the game 11-for-31 lifetime against Buehrle and it was more of the same today.

"I don't know how I do it. Trust me," he said. "I don't ask questions because as soon as I say I'm doing well off him, he's going to get me out the next three times. So, whatever I did off him, I'm just going to try to repeat it tomorrow."

Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia made his second major league appearance and allowed one run and two hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked two batters and struck out two.

"You see the stuff," Showalter said. "Breaking ball I thought was better. After a while, I had a little talk with him. I thought his last 1-2-3 inning was pretty good. He can get going and get strike one, he has a chance to have some success.

"I was proud of him. He doesn't seem to want to be over-amped. He's handled it well externally."

It's going to take a lot to handle the Blue Jays' offense.

"They're as athletically talented as you'll see in the major leagues," Showalter said. "Quality arms, too. They're going to have a lot of fun this summer."

Chris Davis went 2-for-4 with a double off the right field fence.

"He had a couple good at-bats," Showalter said. "I thought he was driving the ball to left field. Chris had a lot of quality at-bats. He hit three balls pretty well today."

Davis, in his first home game following his suspension, received a nice ovation when introduced during the pregame ceremony. If anyone booed, the sound was muted.

"I think he's handled it," Showalter said. "Never has he made an excuse for why. He knows. He's never said somebody else was to blame and I think people appreciate that. I'm not going to get into society versus our job and he knows he made a mistake the way the rules are written and he paid for it.

"I think the fans realize that Chris has missed it and they have missed him, and they understand the reason why. Now, it's about, can you help us win? Chris understands that he controls this. People are always waiting to embrace you if you can give them something to embrace you for. Nobody wants to stand up and boo and be unhappy with you. It's up to you. You control that, not them."