GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (79-77) at BALTIMORE (67-89)

AL: TORONTO (79-77) at BALTIMORE (67-89)

<h3>Burnett looks to continue late-season surge vs. Orioles</h3>

Toronto (79-77) at Baltimore (67-89) 7:05 pm EDT


BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- A.J. Burnett has done a solid job makingup for lost time this season.


Burnett looks to continue his late-season success Tuesday whenthe Toronto Blue Jays visit the Baltimore Orioles.

Wrapping up his second campaign with the Blue Jays, Burnett(9-7, 3.40 ERA) was sidelined six weeks with an shoulder injuryearlier this season and has made a total of just 23 starts.

But the 30-year-old has been impressive since off the disabledlist on August 12, going 4-1 with a 1.97 ERA in eight outings.

Burnett was outstanding in last start, allowing three runs andnine hits with 11 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings to beat the BostonRed Sox last Tuesday.


The hard-throwing Burnett was scheduled to pitch Monday againstthe New York Yankees but was forced to return home to deal withpersonal matters. Rookie Jessie Litsch filled in admirably,tossing 7 2/3 stellar innings to lead Toronto to a 4-1 triumph.

The righthanded Burnett has been dominant against Baltimore overhis career, going 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in five lifetime startsvs. the Orioles.


Baltimore counters with Brian Burres (6-6, 5.27), who gave upjust two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts through 7 1/3frames in a setback at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday.

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO AT BALTIMORE -- LINEUPS

TORONTO BALTIMORE
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Reed Johnson LF .234 2 12 Brian Roberts 2B .293 12 56
Hector Luna 3B .222 1 4 Melvin Mora 3B .276 14 54
Alex Rios CF .296 24 84 Nick Markakis RF .290 22 109
Frank Thomas DH .270 25 91 Miguel Tejada SS .297 18 77
Aaron Hill 2B .284 16 74 Kevin Millar 1B .255 16 62
Gregg Zaun C .245 10 50 Aubrey Huff DH .279 15 71
Curtis Thigpen 1B .233 0 9 Ramon Hernandez C .251 8 56
Adam Lind RF .233 9 37 Freddie Bynum LF .273 2 11
John Mcdonald SS .248 1 29 Tike Redman CF .318 2 14

A.J. Burnett RHP (9-7, 3.40) Brian Burres LHP (6-6, 5.27)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
WARMUPS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT (9-7, 3.40)
BAL - BRIAN BURRES (6-6, 5.27)

UMPIRES: HP - ADAM DOWDY
1B - JIM REYNOLDS
2B - GARY CEDERSTROM
3B - LANCE BARKSDALE

WEATHER: 86 Degrees, clear
WIND: 9 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
STARTING BATS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT AND GREGG ZAUN
BAL - BRIAN BURRES AND RAMON HERNANDEZ

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.234, 2 HR, 12 RBI)
H LUNA (.222, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
A RIOS (.296, 24 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.293, 12 HR, 56 RBI)
M MORA (.276, 14 HR, 54 RBI)
N MARKAKIS (.290, 22 HR, 109 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BALTIMORE (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
H Luna 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
A Rios cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
A Lind rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
N Markakis rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
BALTIMORE - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.40

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.23

Pitches-strikes: B Burres 13-9. Ground balls-fly balls: B Burres 1-2. Batters
faced: B Burres 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 86 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
BAL - BRIAN BURRES</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.270, 25 HR, 91 RBI)
A HILL (.284, 16 HR, 74 RBI)
G ZAUN (.245, 10 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS BALTIMORE (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
H Luna 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
A Rios cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
A Lind rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.38

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.23

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 11-7; B Burres 13-9. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Burnett 2-0; B Burres 1-2. Batters faced: A Burnett 3; B Burres 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 86 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY GREGG ZAUN SCORED FRANK THOMAS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G ZAUN ON SECOND, A HILL ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C THIGPEN (.233, 0 HR, 9 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CURTIS THIGPEN SCORED AARON HILL.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C THIGPEN ON FIRST, G ZAUN ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A LIND (.233, 9 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL TORONTO AT BALTIMORE
NOTE: TORONTO SECOND BASEMAN AARON HILL SINGLED IN THE
SECOND INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 11 GAMES.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JOHN MCDONALD SCORED CURTIS THIGPEN.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J MCDONALD ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.233, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 3 3 5 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M TEJADA (.297, 18 HR, 77 RBI)
K MILLAR (.255, 16 HR, 62 RBI)
A HUFF (.279, 15 HR, 71 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (3) VS BALTIMORE (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
H Luna 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
A Rios cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
F Thomas dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .272
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
G Zaun c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .247
C Thigpen 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .241
A Lind rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .232
J McDonald ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .250

Totals 10 3 5 3 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (24, B Burres); J McDonald (19, B Burres). RBI - G Zaun
(51), C Thigpen (10), J McDonald (30). 2-out RBI - J McDonald. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - R Johnson 1. Team LOB - 1.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Millar-R Hernandez-M Mora-K Millar).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 03 -- 3
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.38

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 2 5 3 3 0 0 0 5.42

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 11-7; B Burres 43-29. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Burnett 2-0; B Burres 2-3. Batters faced: A Burnett 3; B Burres 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 86 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 3 3 5 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: H LUNA (.214, 0-FOR-1)
A RIOS (.296, 0-FOR-1)
F THOMAS (.272, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (3) VS BALTIMORE (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
H Luna 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
A Rios cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
F Thomas dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .272
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
G Zaun c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .247
C Thigpen 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .241
A Lind rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .232
J McDonald ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .250

Totals 10 3 5 3 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (24, B Burres); J McDonald (19, B Burres). RBI - G Zaun
(51), C Thigpen (10), J McDonald (30). 2-out RBI - J McDonald. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - R Johnson 1. Team LOB - 1.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .279
R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Millar-R Hernandez-M Mora-K Millar).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 03 -- 3
BALTIMORE - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.36

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 2 5 3 3 0 0 0 5.42

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 28-17; B Burres 43-29. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Burnett 4-1; B Burres 2-3. Batters faced: A Burnett 7; B Burres 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 86 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY FRANK THOMAS (26) TO LEFT CENTER WITH
0 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF BRIAN BURRES SCORED HECTOR LUNA AND ALEX RIOS.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6, BALTIMORE 0

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.285, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 3 3 6 8 0
BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: F BYNUM (.273, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
T REDMAN (.318, 2 HR, 14 RBI)
B ROBERTS (.292, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (6) VS BALTIMORE (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
H Luna 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .241
A Rios cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297
F Thomas dh 2 2 2 3 0 0 0 .273
A Hill 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .285
G Zaun c 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 .247
C Thigpen 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .239
A Lind rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .232
J McDonald ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .250

Totals 15 6 8 6 1 0 3

BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (24, B Burres); J McDonald (19, B Burres). HR - F Thomas
(26, 3rd inning off B Burres 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - G Zaun (51), C Thigpen (10), J
McDonald (30), F Thomas 3 (94). 2-out RBI - J McDonald. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - R Johnson 1. GIDP - C Thigpen. Team LOB - 1.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .275
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .279
R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (K Millar-R Hernandez-M Mora-K Millar, M Tejada-B Roberts-K
Millar).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 033 -- 6
BALTIMORE - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.36

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 3 8 6 6 1 0 1 5.60

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 28-17; B Burres 60-39. Ground balls-fly balls: A
Burnett 4-1; B Burres 4-4. Batters faced: A Burnett 7; B Burres 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Lance
Barksdale.

Weather: 86 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to center.</div>