BALTIMORE -- Before this early-season 10-game stretch of games against their divisional rivals began last Tuesday, the Blue Jays were relishing the challenge.
Now, five games into it, not so much.
After an encouraging win over Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka, it's been a steady diet of losses -- two to the Red Sox and now two more against the Baltimore Orioles.
After two late-inning meltdowns in a row that put the spotlight on the beleaguered Toronto bullpen, this latest defeat -- 5-2 to the Orioles last night -- was one that could be shared all over the clubhouse, and perhaps even into the umpires' room.
Life in the American League East dictates that losing streaks are lethal. With Boston and New York once again poised to try to dominate, the Jays cannot afford to fall too far below .500 this early in the season.
Last night, when the pitching staff could have used a bit of help from the well-hyped Toronto offence, it wasn't there. British Columbia native Adam Loewen did a good job of silencing the Toronto bats on five hits through 52/3 innings and even though he walked seven batters, the Jays couldn't muster more than two runs.
"He walked a few guys," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "But he got a lot of ground ball outs and some key strikeouts. That kid is only going to get better. His ball is so lively."
Josh Towers, who pitched so well in a 2-1 win over Detroit in his previous start, wasn't nearly as effective last night, giving up nine hits and three walks over five innings. He also made a critical error that gave Baltimore some breathing room in the sixth inning.
'HUNG IN THERE'
"They jumped on Josh early, but he hung in there and gave us a decent enough game," Gibbons said.
Gibbons was tossed from the game in the fifth inning with rookie Adam Lind at the plate. After two called strikes, the Blue Jays manager had words from the dugout with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi and was quickly tossed for arguing balls and strikes. It was Gibbons' first ejection of the season.
To be charitable, Cuzzi didn't have a very good night. In addition to the mystery strike zone he had all evening, he mistakenly called two foul balls swinging strikes, one on Vernon Wells and the other on Jason Phillips. He also had a hand in ringing up Royce Clayton on a checked swing in the fourth inning.
In the sixth inning, Wells led off with a single but was quickly erased on a double-play ball hit by Frank Thomas. Then, with two out, Loewen walked Overbay and Aaron Hill, then gave up an RBI single to Clayton. After Loewen loaded the bases with another walk to Phillips, submariner Chad Bradford was summoned from the bullpen and he struck out pinch-hitter Jason Smith to end the threat.
Towers' error opened the door to a two-run sixth that gave Baltimore a 5-2 lead. After Chris Gomez led off with a single, catcher Paul Bako hit a potential double-play ball to Towers, who threw it wild into centre field in an attempt to get Gomez at second. Corey Patterson then singled in a run, sending Towers to the showers.
Before the inning was over, Jeremy Accardo had walked in another run to give the O's the final three-run cushion.
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REPORT CARD
C- At the plate: Blue Jays scattered seven hits and couldn't take advantage of seven walks issued by Baltimore starter Adam Loewen. Power numbers continue to decline..
C- Starter: Josh Towers bent and didn't break, but lacked the pinpoint control he needs to be an effetcive starting pitcher. He allowed three walks and made a - error that cost at least one run.
B Bullpen: Jeremy Accardo pitched three strong innings, but allowed one of his inherited runners to score. It was still an improvement on the work the bullpen did the last two games.
