GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (80-77) at BALTIMORE (67-90)

AL: TORONTO (80-77) at BALTIMORE (67-90)

<h3>Blue Jays, Orioles playing for pride</h3>



Toronto (80-77) at Baltimore (67-90), 7:05 pm EDT


BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Two teams playing only for pride at thisstage of the season will meet on Wednesday when the the TorontoBlue Jays continue their three-game series against the BaltimoreOrioles.


The Blue Jays have been playing spoiler, taking three of fourgames from the first-place Boston Red Sox (93-64) and splittinga four game series with the New York Yankees (90-67), who trailthe Red Sox by three games in the American League East Division,before traveling to Baltimore.


Meanwhile, the Orioles are finding it hard to snap out of theirlosing ways. Baltimore is 8-16 in September after posting a 9-19record in August.


Victor Zambrano (0-2, 6.41 ERA) will look for revenge againsthis former team when he takes the mound for the Orioles onWednesday.


Zambrano, who was released by the Blue Jays in July before beingclaimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Orioleson September 9, is trying to prove that he is still worth aroster spot after undergoing two "Tommy John" surgeries on hispitching elbow.


The 32-year-old Venezuelan has been decent since joining theOrioles despite not yet factoring into a decision. Zambrano hasallowed only one run and five hits in nine innings over a spanof two starts.


With a win Wednesday, Blue Jays starter Roy Halladay (15-7,3.71) will have 16 victories on the season, his most sincewinning 22 during his Cy Young season of 2003. Halladay pitched8 2/3 strong innings in his last outing, giving up four runs -one earned - and eight hits to the New York Yankees. TheToronto ace did not factor into the decision even though theBlue Jays posted a 5-4 victory on Friday.

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

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

TORONTO BALTIMORE
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Reed Johnson RF .238 2 13 Brian Roberts 2B .294 12 56
Matt Stairs 1B .292 20 61 Melvin Mora DH .278 14 55
Alex Rios CF .296 24 84 Nick Markakis RF .290 22 110
Frank Thomas DH .276 26 94 Miguel Tejada SS .301 18 78
Aaron Hill 2B .285 17 76 Kevin Millar 1B .253 16 62
Gregg Zaun C .246 10 51 Ramon Hernandez C .251 8 56
Adam Lind LF .236 9 37 Scott Moore 3B .206 1 9
Russ Adams 3B .265 2 11 Jay Payton LF .251 5 50
John Mcdonald SS .254 1 31 Tike Redman CF .315 2 14

Roy Halladay RHP (15-7, 3.71) Victor Zambrano RHP (0-2, 6.41)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
WARMUPS: TOR - ROY HALLADAY (15-7, 3.71)
BAL - VICTOR ZAMBRANO (0-2, 6.41)

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

WEATHER: 90 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 12 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
STARTING BATS: TOR - ROY HALLADAY AND GREGG ZAUN
BAL - VICTOR ZAMBRANO AND RAMON HERNANDEZ

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R JOHNSON (.238, 2 HR, 13 RBI)
M STAIRS (.292, 20 HR, 61 RBI)
A RIOS (.296, 24 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY FRANK THOMAS SCORED REED JOHNSON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A RIOS ON FIRST, M STAIRS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.285, 17 HR, 76 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO GREGG ZAUN SCORED MATT STAIRS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, G ZAUN ON FIRST, A HILL ON SECOND, A RIOS ON
THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A LIND (.236, 9 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ADAM LIND SCORED ALEX RIOS AND AARON HILL.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, A LIND ON FIRST, G ZAUN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R ADAMS (.265, 2 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY REED JOHNSON SCORED GREGG ZAUN.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, R JOHNSON ON FIRST, J MCDONALD ON SECOND, R
ADAMS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 5
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.292, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - PITCHING CHANGE
BAL: KURT BIRKINS (1-2, 8.49) IN THE 1ST
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, R JOHNSON ON FIRST, J MCDONALD ON SECOND, R
ADAMS ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 5, BALTIMORE 0

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.292, 20 HR, 61 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: K Birkins relieved V Zambrano.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, R JOHNSON ON FIRST, J MCDONALD ON SECOND, R
ADAMS ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 5
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M Stairs (.292, 0-FOR-0)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MATT STAIRS SCORED RUSS ADAMS AND JOHN MCDONALD.

SITUATION: 7 RUNS IN, M STAIRS ON FIRST, R JOHNSON ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A RIOS (.297, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ALEX RIOS SCORED REED JOHNSON.
SITUATION: 8 RUNS IN, A RIOS ON FIRST, M STAIRS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 8
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.276, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - ROY HALLADAY
BAL - KURT BIRKINS

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.294, 12 HR, 56 RBI)
M MORA (.278, 14 HR, 55 RBI)
N MARKAKIS (.290, 22 HR, 110 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (8) VS BALTIMORE (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson rf 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 .240
M Stairs 1b 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 .294
A Rios cf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .298
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 .276
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
G Zaun c 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 .246
A Lind lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .239
R Adams 3b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .260
J McDonald ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .254

Totals 8 8 6 8 3 0 5

BATTING: SF - F Thomas. RBI - F Thomas (95), G Zaun (52), A Lind 2 (39), R
Johnson (14), M Stairs 2 (63), A Rios (85). 2-out RBI - R Johnson, M Stairs 2,
A Rios. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 2.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Mora dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
N Markakis rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
S Moore 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 8 -- 8
BALTIMORE - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
R Halladay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.71

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
V Zambrano 2/3 4 8 8 3 0 0 9.74
K Birkins 1/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 8.40

HBP - R Johnson (by V Zambrano). Pitches-strikes: V Zambrano 36-19; K Birkins
5-4. Ground balls-fly balls: V Zambrano 1-1; K Birkins 1-0. Batters faced: V
Zambrano 10; K Birkins 3.

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

Weather: 85 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - ROY HALLADAY
BAL - VICTOR ZAMBRANO</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - ROY HALLADAY
BAL - KURT BIRKINS

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.286, 1-FOR-1)
G ZAUN (.246, 0-FOR-0, BB, RBI)
A LIND (.239, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (8) VS BALTIMORE (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson rf 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 .240
M Stairs 1b 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 .294
A Rios cf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .298
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 .276
A Hill 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
G Zaun c 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 .246
A Lind lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .239
R Adams 3b 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .260
J McDonald ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .254

Totals 8 8 6 8 3 0 5

BATTING: SF - F Thomas. RBI - F Thomas (95), G Zaun (52), A Lind 2 (39), R
Johnson (14), M Stairs 2 (63), A Rios (85). 2-out RBI - R Johnson, M Stairs 2,
A Rios. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - R Adams (2, ground ball).


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Mora dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .300
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .253
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
S Moore 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315

Totals 5 0 1 0 0 0 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Millar 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 8 -- 8
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
R Halladay 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.69

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
V Zambrano 2/3 4 8 8 3 0 0 9.74
K Birkins 1/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 8.40

HBP - R Johnson (by V Zambrano). Pitches-strikes: R Halladay 25-15; V
Zambrano 36-19; K Birkins 5-4. Ground balls-fly balls: R Halladay 0-3; V
Zambrano 1-1; K Birkins 1-0. Batters faced: R Halladay 5; V Zambrano 10; K
Birkins 3.

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

Weather: 85 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - ROY HALLADAY
BAL - KURT BIRKINS

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: R HERNANDEZ (.251, 8 HR, 56 RBI)
S MOORE (.206, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
J PAYTON (.251, 5 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">TORONTO (8) VS BALTIMORE (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson rf 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 .240
M Stairs 1b 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 .294
A Rios cf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .298
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 1 0 0 4 .276
A Hill 2b 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .287
G Zaun c 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 .245
A Lind lf 2 0 1 2 0 0 1 .238
R Adams 3b 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 .255
J McDonald ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .254

Totals 12 8 7 8 3 1 8

BATTING: SF - F Thomas. RBI - F Thomas (95), G Zaun (52), A Lind 2 (39), R
Johnson (14), M Stairs 2 (63), A Rios (85). 2-out RBI - R Johnson, M Stairs 2,
A Rios. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - R Adams (2, ground ball).


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
M Mora dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .300
K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .253
R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
S Moore 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315

Totals 5 0 1 0 0 0 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Millar 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 80 -- 8
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
R Halladay 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.69

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
V Zambrano 2/3 4 8 8 3 0 0 9.74
K Birkins 1 1/3 3 0 0 0 1 0 8.13

HBP - R Johnson (by V Zambrano). Pitches-strikes: R Halladay 25-15; V
Zambrano 36-19; K Birkins 23-13. Ground balls-fly balls: R Halladay 1-3; V
Zambrano 1-1; K Birkins 2-1. Batters faced: R Halladay 5; V Zambrano 10; K
Birkins 7.

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

Weather: 85 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL TORONTO AT BALTIMORE
NOTE: TORONTO SECOND BASEMAN AARON HILL EXTENDED HIS
HITTING STREAK TO 12 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE FIRST INNING.</div>