Toronto Blue Jays (27-22) at Baltimore Orioles (20-26), 1:35 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Roy Halladay (8-1, 2.52) Baltimore - Rich Hill (1-0, 3.18)
Roy Halladay tries to become the first nine-game winner in the majors, while helping the Toronto Blue Jays stop an eight-game slide in the process, when they play the finale of their three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Camden Yards.
Halladay was denied win No. 9 Friday in Atlanta, despite a brilliant performance. The right-hander scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings in that one, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 1-0 loss.
In 10 starts this season, Halladay is 8-1 with a 2.52 earned run average and has pitched at least seven innings in every outing. Over his past six turns, though, Halladay has gone 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA, compiling 37 strikeouts and just six walks over 46 innings.
Halladay defeated the Orioles earlier in the year and has owned them over the course of his career, having gone 19-4 against them with a 2.88 ERA in 29 games, 25 of which have been starts.
Toronto could certainly use a big start from its ace today if they are to avoid their third straight sweep and salvage at least one game from what has been a disastrous nine-outing road trip which has seen the Blue Jays fall from first to third in the AL East.
In front of the smallest crowd in Camden Yards history on Tuesday, Jason Berken had a successful major league debut, tossing five solid innings in Baltimore's 7-2 win. Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold each hit a two-run homer for the Orioles, who have won four of their last five games.
Berken (1-0), who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, gave up two runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts to pick up the win.
"I felt really good," said Berken. "I've been waiting for this for a long time, so I was more anxious than anything. But when you have a defense like that behind you, it's hard not to feel confident. I just knew if I pitched to contact and kept the ball in play, things would turn out fine."
Baltimore has been in a position to sweep its opponent four times this season, but has lost the finale on every occasion and been outscored 49-16 in those contests. A win today, though, would give the O's their first sweep over the Jays since turning the trick from April 20-22, 2007.
Adam Lind and Rod Barajas each drove in a run while Marco Scutaro went 3-for-5 with a run scored for the Blue Jays. Ricky Romero (2-1) was handed the loss as he gave up five runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
"We had scoring chances the last eight games," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "We just haven't capitalized on them. It's pretty much been the same thing."
Toronto hasn't lost nine straight overall since May 1-10, 2007, and it hasn't dropped nine in a row on the road since April 30-May 25, 1994.
"We're just in a rut right now," Kevin Millar said. "Eventually it's going to turn around. We've just got to keep plugging along."
Hoping to keep the Jays in the loss column tonight will be left-hander Rich Hill, who has been impressive for the O's since coming of the disabled list on May 16. After winning his season debut against the Kansas City Royals, Hill surrendered two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings to the Washington Nationals on Friday, but did not get a decision in his team's 4-2 win.
Hill has never faced the Jays.
The Blue Jays swept a three-game set from the O's in Toronto earlier in the year.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Toronto - Roy Halladay (8-1, 2.52) Baltimore - Rich Hill (1-0, 3.18)
Roy Halladay tries to become the first nine-game winner in the majors, while helping the Toronto Blue Jays stop an eight-game slide in the process, when they play the finale of their three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Camden Yards.
Halladay was denied win No. 9 Friday in Atlanta, despite a brilliant performance. The right-hander scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings in that one, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 1-0 loss.
In 10 starts this season, Halladay is 8-1 with a 2.52 earned run average and has pitched at least seven innings in every outing. Over his past six turns, though, Halladay has gone 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA, compiling 37 strikeouts and just six walks over 46 innings.
Halladay defeated the Orioles earlier in the year and has owned them over the course of his career, having gone 19-4 against them with a 2.88 ERA in 29 games, 25 of which have been starts.
Toronto could certainly use a big start from its ace today if they are to avoid their third straight sweep and salvage at least one game from what has been a disastrous nine-outing road trip which has seen the Blue Jays fall from first to third in the AL East.
In front of the smallest crowd in Camden Yards history on Tuesday, Jason Berken had a successful major league debut, tossing five solid innings in Baltimore's 7-2 win. Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold each hit a two-run homer for the Orioles, who have won four of their last five games.
Berken (1-0), who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, gave up two runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts to pick up the win.
"I felt really good," said Berken. "I've been waiting for this for a long time, so I was more anxious than anything. But when you have a defense like that behind you, it's hard not to feel confident. I just knew if I pitched to contact and kept the ball in play, things would turn out fine."
Baltimore has been in a position to sweep its opponent four times this season, but has lost the finale on every occasion and been outscored 49-16 in those contests. A win today, though, would give the O's their first sweep over the Jays since turning the trick from April 20-22, 2007.
Adam Lind and Rod Barajas each drove in a run while Marco Scutaro went 3-for-5 with a run scored for the Blue Jays. Ricky Romero (2-1) was handed the loss as he gave up five runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
"We had scoring chances the last eight games," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "We just haven't capitalized on them. It's pretty much been the same thing."
Toronto hasn't lost nine straight overall since May 1-10, 2007, and it hasn't dropped nine in a row on the road since April 30-May 25, 1994.
"We're just in a rut right now," Kevin Millar said. "Eventually it's going to turn around. We've just got to keep plugging along."
Hoping to keep the Jays in the loss column tonight will be left-hander Rich Hill, who has been impressive for the O's since coming of the disabled list on May 16. After winning his season debut against the Kansas City Royals, Hill surrendered two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings to the Washington Nationals on Friday, but did not get a decision in his team's 4-2 win.
Hill has never faced the Jays.
The Blue Jays swept a three-game set from the O's in Toronto earlier in the year.
