Jason Berken’s shines as Baltimore Orioles defeating Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 – MLB Update
Baltimore Orioles put an end to the worst losing streak in half a century by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 at Rogers Centre on Thursday, June 16.
The Orioles had to bring Jason Berken to relieve Jeremy Guthrie who had to leave the game incomplete with his strained back after five shut-out innings. Berken did all he could in limiting the Blue Jays’ hitters.
"It's kind of weird how it worked out," Berken said. "It just feels good to help. Any way I can help is awesome. I'm just glad to be part of this team again.”
Both Jeremy Guthrie and Zach Stewart were amazingly dominant in the first five innings they pitched. It was Stewart who gave up a hit each in the third and fourth inning, while Guthrie was conspicuously beyond a hit in the five innings.
Of the 64 pitches Guthrie threw, he allowed only one hit with five strike-outs before he had to leave due to his strained back. "I feel very good," Guerrero said, "Fifteen years in the big league means I've had a lot of hits and it feels good."
J.J. Hardy and Vladimir Guerrero scored a single each in the sixth inning, as Stewart gave up three hits. The two hitters combined singles gave a valuable 2-0 lead to the Orioles, throwing the Blue Jays in jitters.
However, Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer once Jim Johnson was brought in due to the injury of Guthrie. Johnson’s arrival proved a bit of calamitous for the Orioles as the Blue Jays’ found an opportunity in levelling the score.
It was here that Jason Berken utilised his skill to full capacity and proved his choice right with pitching the seventh and eighth shut-out innings, keeping the Blue Jays’ offence at bay at a time when the Orioles were straining due to a poor performance.
Derrek Lee and Ryan Adams got a single each in the ninth inning for the Orioles to put the team back on the track. Their individual singles took the lead to 4-2 which was to be maintained in the ninth inning.
Berken was then relieved by Kevin Gregg in the ninth inning that gave up a hit and allowed a run to Adam Lind, but sent other hitters home with his swift fastballs to turn the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 lead into a win.
It will be interesting to see how the Orioles manage to carry this winning momentum into their next match-up. The Blue Jays fought hard, but unfortunately it was not enough to contain the Orioles’ offence on the night.
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