  Jays starter David Purcey held the Orioles to one run through seven innings on Monday night. (Sun Media/Mark O'Neill)
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All those young Blue Jays pitchers who feel they have put the minor leagues behind them this year should study carefully the cautionary tale of David Purcey.
For four seasons, Purcey, who handed the Baltimore Orioles a 9-2 defeat last night, struggled to get to the point where he could be considered for big-league assignments. Twice, early in 2008, the Jays brought him up for spot starts and both times he was overmatched, walking 11 hitters in a total of 7 1/3 innings.
Then, in late July of that year, he was back and settled into a spot in the rotation, making 10 starts before the end of the season, walking just 18 more batters in 57 innings and impressing the Jays brass enough to make him a favourite to break spring training in the 2009 rotation.
That he did, but in his first five starts this past April, Purcey walked 26 batters in as many innings. That earned him a plane ticket to Las Vegas and another season of triple-A.
"On this level, you can get hurt (by walks)," said manager Cito Gaston. "If you're going to get beat, get beat by having somebody hit the ball, not walking him."
And the point? Baseball can be cruel. One step forward can often be followed by two steps back. Purcey is hoping his next steps are forward. But there are no guarantees. The only guarantees come from a steady string of performances like the one last night in his second start since being called up at the start of the month.
Over 72/3 innings, Purcey allowed the Orioles just a run on four singles, walked four batters and took command of the strike zone until he began to tire in the eighth. Baltimore's only run against Purcey came in the second inning when Felix Pie's RBI- single scored Nick Markakis from third base.
"I haven't thought once about next year yet," said Purcey.
"I'm getting the opportunity to go out and pitch every fifth day and that's all I can ask for. It's what I want to do and I'll try to make the most of it.
"I've made some mechanical changes this year and I feel like it's a step in the right direction."
The Jays gave Purcey all the support he needed in the bat-around third inning when they scored three times.
Adam Lind delivered RBIs 105 and 106 with a single, then later scored himself on a bases-loaded walk to Travis Snider.
Lyle Overbay and John McDonald both homered in the sixth inning. For McDonald it was his third of the season, matching a career high.
In the Baltimore eighth, Purcey got two quick outs before loading the bases on a walk, a single and another walk. Shawn Camp came out of the bullpen to get the third out.
"That one critical out kept the game from getting close," said Purcey.
The Jays added four more in the bottom of the inning, on three walks and three hits, all after two were out. Edwin Encarnacion and Snider delivered the key blows, each with a two-run single.
KEN.FIDLIN@SUNMEDIA.CA
