The Baltimore Orioles went 4-2 on their latest road trip, a move in the right direction for a team that has struggled to win away from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
After flying south and taking two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays, they flew north and did the same thing in Toronto against another AL East opponent, the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
After splitting the first two games with the Blue Jays, the Orioles won the series finale, 2-0 behind the best start of the season from inconsistent pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.
He had the Toronto hitters guessing all night as all of his pitches were working. He struck out eight and allowed two hits and one walk in eight innings of work. He is now 3-3 and lowered his ERA to 6.48.
Closer Brad Brach came in to record his 15th save of the year. RBIs by Jonathan Schoop and Caleb Joseph were all Jimenez needed to secure the victory.
In the first game of the Toronto series, a 3-1 Baltimore win, the Orioles jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on behind a solid outing from starter Kevin Gausman and a pesky bullpen.
Gausman, who has also struggled being consistent this year, allowed four hits, struck out four and walked two in 5.1 innings of work. He improved to (4-7) and now has a 6.07 ERA.
Relievers Mychal Givens and Darren O’ Day both pitched a shutout in the seventh and eighth innings and closer Brach surrendered a solo homer in the ninth before earning his 14th save of the season.
Designated hitter Mark Trumbo hit a two run double in the first and Adam Jones had an RBI single in the third to power the O’s.
The middle game of the Toronto series went to the Blue Jays, 4-0.
The Baltimore batters were handcuffed by Toronto starter Marcus Stroman. He struck out eight while allowing five hits and one walk in 7.2 innings of work.
Meanwhile the Orioles starter, Wade Miley allowed six hits, struck out five and gave up four runs and walked four in five innings of work. He is now (3-6) and has a 4.54 ERA.
As the O’s near the All-Star game break and the mid-point of the season they are trying to figure out how to get consistent quality starts from their starters in order to make a run at first place or a Wild Card berth in the second half of the season. More winning road trips would not hurt either.
