Baltimore's Bullpen Falters Against Toronto
Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5
Toronto Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion, left, and Aaron Hill (2) celebrate Hill's solo home run in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters during the third inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)
(Darren Calabrese - AP)
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
TORONTO, Sept. 22 -- The Orioles received one of their most efficient performances of the season from a starting pitcher and some key hits from their offense, but in the end they lost again in their dome of horrors, the Rogers Centre.
The Toronto Blue Jays completed their inspired comeback and 6-5 victory when Aaron Hill doubled home Jos? Bautista in the bottom of the 11th.
"I am concerned about everybody at this particular point in time and I feel just awful that we didn't win the game and the guys didn't get it done," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said.
Trailing 5-2, the Blue Jays scored two runs in the eighth, another in the ninth and then added the winner against Dennis Sarfate (1-0) to heap more misery onto an Orioles' bullpen that has surrendered 15 earned runs in their last 17 innings.
The Orioles (60-91) have lost six straight, tying a season high, and have dropped seven of eight in Toronto this year.
This loss rests on the tired shoulders of the relievers.
Danys B?ez served up a two-run homer to Edwin Encarnacion in the eighth to bring the Blue Jays within a run.
And Orioles closer Jim Johnson allowed three consecutive, one-out singles in the bottom of the ninth before plunking Bautista with a 95-mph fastball to tie the score. Johnson struck out the next two batters to finish the ninth, but the Blue Jays had new life.
It was Johnson's third blown save in nine attempts since taking over as closer from George Sherrill, but all three have come in his last five save opportunities.
"I don't know if I am putting too much pressure [on myself] I just haven't gotten the job done," Johnson said. "So it's all on me."
The bullpen blew the win for one of its former members, Mark Hendrickson, who was making his second start since May after four months as a reliever.
Hendrickson lasted six innings, his longest outing of the season, and was on the verge of getting his first win as a starter since his Oriole debut April 10.
