Two days before baseball’s free-agency period begins in earnest, the Orioles are still looking for a general manager.

They thought they were close Tuesday, when they made an offer to Toronto Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava, a 50-year-old baseball lifer who is known for having a keen eye for talent.

But LaCava, who had interviewed twice in October with the club — including a sit-down with managing partner Peter Angelos on Monday — turned down the job, citing a desire to stay with a Blue Jays franchise that is considered by some as an up-and-comer.

“This was about the Toronto Blue Jays more than it is anything about the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles were classy in everything they did, and I think they are going to go down the right path,” LaCava told The Baltimore Sun. “For me, it was how much I love the Toronto Blue Jays and I really, really treasure my relationship with my general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, and I really want to see this through with him. He created a great atmosphere to work up there, along with president Paul Beeston, and it is very hard to leave them.”

LaCava, who was a finalist in the past for GM jobs in Seattle and Pittsburgh, said he wasn’t actively searching for a new opportunity this time around.

“When I decided to interview, it wasn’t that I was looking to leave. But there are only 30 GM positions, and I was interested in it,” he said. “When I weighed both at the end of the day, I just didn’t feel I could leave the Blue Jays.”

The Orioles job presumably would have been both a financial and status boost for LaCava, who has worked in scouting and development for several clubs since 1989. But he would have been joining an organization that has had 14 consecutive losing seasons and lags far behind its American League East counterparts.

At least one industry source said LaCava asked for — and received assurances — that he would have been able to hire more than a half-dozen new employees to fill various holes in scouting and development. But ultimately, the Pittsburgh native chose to stay in Toronto.

“I am working in a great place, a job that I love,” LaCava said. “It’s just as simple as that.”

The Orioles are not commenting publicly on the search to replace Andy MacPhail, who stepped down in October after four-plus years as president of baseball operations. The Orioles have interviewed four men for the vacancy, including LaCava and Jerry Dipoto, who last week was hired as the Los Angeles Angels’ GM. That leaves Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM De Jon Watson and Orioles player-development director John Stockstill as the remaining candidates.

However, it is expected that the Orioles will go back to their original list and conduct a few more interviews. Potential candidates could include Chicago White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn, New York Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer and Texas Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine, among others.

The Orioles, the only club without a top baseball executive, had hoped to have someone in place before the free-agency period begins Thursday, though the majority of free agents aren’t typically signed until December.

dan.connolly@baltsun.com

twitter.com/danconnollysun

Orioles Insider |

Live scores |

Photos |

Baseball app

Toronto Blue Jays executive Tony LaCava is back in town today to meet with Orioles owner Peter Angelos,according to a team source, which is a pretty solid indication that he’s the preferred candidate to replace Andy MacPhail as the Orioles head of baseball operations.

The Orioles are not expected to do a second round of interviews, so the fact that LaCava is back almost certainly means that he and the ownership component of the search committee are discussing the conditions of his employment. It doesn’t mean, however, that he has been offered the job officially or will accept it.

It’s a complicated dance, since any high-quality candidate for this type of management position is going to want to know the limits of his authority as well as the size and length of his contract. The outside candidates who were summoned to Baltimore to interview for the position all are highly prized by their current organizations, so it’s not fair to assume any of them would automatically accept the job if offered.

It probably is fair to assume that if the Orioles schedule a news conference for tomorrow to announce the new VP or president of baseball operations, it will be LaCava, but there has been no indication yet that the process is moving along quite that quickly.

LaCava’s presence in Baltimore today was first reported on FoxSports.com.

For the second straight day, the Orioles conducted a lengthy interview with a well-respected front office official in hopes of replacing president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who stepped down this month.

On Wednesday, it was Toronto Blue Jays assistant general manager and director of player personnel Tony LaCava. It came on the heels of Tuesday’s marathon meeting with Arizona Diamondbacks senior vice president of scouting and player development Jerry Dipoto.

Dipoto, who also is expected to interview with the Los Angeles Angels for their vacant GM job, is considered the favorite for the Orioles’ post, but LaCava is also highly regarded. The Orioles originally planned to interview at least four candidates, but their request to talk to Florida Marlins assistant GM Dan Jennings is expected to be denied.

Most others who have been bandied about as candidates — including Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GMs De Jon Watson and Logan White and New York Mets special assistant J.P. Ricciardi — had not been contacted by the Orioles as of Wednesday, according to industry sources.

That leaves Dipoto and LaCava, although one industry source said it would be surprising if it were only those two to interview.

LaCava, 50, is a longtime scout and baseball lifer who has been considered a potential GM for years, having been rumored, in the past, to be joining the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals, among others.

He has instead remained in Toronto for nearly a decade, creating a reputation for having a keen eye for talent at the big league level and in the international and amateur ranks.

A Pittsburgh native, LaCava spent 10 years as a scout in the Angels’ system and also worked for the Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos and Cleveland Indians before joining the Blue Jays nine years ago.

Along with the assistant GM title, he is considered the director of player personnel. But within the game, he receives the most credit for the Blue Jays’ strong international program, which has helped the organization create one of the top farm systems in baseball.

It’s an area where the Orioles feel he could help improve them.

A former minor league infielder, LaCava also stands out among many peers because he embraces advanced statistical analysis and has used those metrics to formulate opinions on players. Yet he also has 20-plus years of scouting to draw from — a combination somewhat rare in today’s game, in which scouting and statistical analysis often comprise separate camps.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO — J.P. Arencibia’s two-out single in the bottom of the ninth drove in the winning run as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to edge the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Saturday.

Toronto tied the game earlier in the inning on a wild pitch.

Baltimore took a 4-3 lead on Vladimir Guerrero’s double in the eighth but closer Kevin Gregg, a former Blue Jay, couldn’t hold the lead in the ninth.

Gregg (0-3) gave up a two-out walk to Kelly Johnson and single to Jose Molina. Chris Woodward ran for Molina and former Orioles pitcher Adam Loewen of Surrey, B.C. batted for Dewayne Wise and was hit by a pitch.

Arencibia pinch-hit for Mike McCoy and a wild pitch brought Johnson in with the tying run before Arencibia won it for the Jays (73-73).

Toronto starter Henderson Alvarez didn’t figure in the decision after allowing nine hits and three runs over seven innings. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed one walk and fanned four before Jesse Litsch (6-3) took over in the eighth in a 3-3 tie.

Robert Andino led off the eighth against Litsch with a double and scored on a one-out double by Guerrero to give the Orioles (58-86) a 4-3 lead.

Orioles starter Rick VandenHurk allowed three runs and three hits in 2 1-3 innings, surrendering homers to Jose Bautista — his major league-leading 41st of the season — and Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C. He was replaced by Zach Phillips.

Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar left in the second after being hit on the left elbow with a pitch from VandenHurk. X-rays were negative and he’s listed as day to day.

McCoy ran for Escobar and took over at shortstop.

Consecutive first-inning singles by Nick Markakis, Guerrero and Chris Davis put Baltimore ahead 1-0.

A leadoff walk to Escobar and Bautista’s homer in the bottom of the inning gave Toronto a 2-1 lead.

Kyle Hudson bunted for a single and took on second on Alvarez’s throwing error to lead off the second. Shortstop Pedro Florimon, playing his first major-league game, also bunted but was called out on a close play that brought manager Buck Showalter out to argue.

Hudson took third on the sacrifice and scored on Matt Angle’s single.

Lawrie countered in the bottom of the second with his ninth homer since making his major-league debut in Baltimore on Aug. 5.

The Orioles tied it again in the third on Guerrero’s single and Davis’s double. Davis was thrown out at home by centre-fielder Wise on a single by Josh Bell.

NOTES: Attendance at Rogers Centre was 17,742.. ….Toronto DH Edwin Encarnacion didn’t play due to a left shoulder strain picked up when he struck out in the seventh inning of Friday’s 2-0 loss to Baltimore … Orioles centre-fielder Adam Jones did not start Saturday because his left ankle was swollen after taking a foul a ball Friday night … Dustin McGowan (0-0, 6.75 earned-run average) will make his first start for the Blue Jays since July 8, 2008 when he faces Tommy Hunter (3-3, 5.28 ERA) on Sunday.

 

 

This one ended with another implosion by closer Kevin Gregg, who blew his seventh save in 27 chances and third in his last six opportunities.

“The guys did an outstanding job. The whole team put together a great effort today. Unfortunately, I spoiled it at the end,” said Gregg, who surrendered two runs in the bottom of the ninth on two singles, a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter.

The Orioles (58-86) had a chance to guarantee a series win at Rogers Centre for the first time since June 2008, but now must win Sunday’s rubber match against the Blue Jays (73-73) to accomplish that.

“I think there are a lot of great things that went on in that game today that I’ll dwell on without having blinders on,” said Orioles Manager Buck Showalter. “But I’m sure our clubhouse is frustrated about not finishing it off. Right there is a game that could have gone either way.”

Of the 16 Orioles who appeared in Saturday’s contest, only four — Nick Markakis, Vladimir Guerrero, Robert Andino and Gregg — were on the club’s 2011 opening day roster.

With a day game following a night game and a brutal recent schedule, Showalter rested regulars Matt Wieters, J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds and scratched Adam Jones prior to the first pitch because of a swollen left ankle.

Led by Guerrero’s three hits — including a run-scoring double in the eighth that broke a 3-3 tie — the Orioles managed to outhit the Blue Jays, 12-5. They could have scored another run in the third, when Chris Davis was thrown out trying to score from second on a single.

Ultimately, they couldn’t create more breathing room for the enigmatic Gregg (0-3).

With a 4-3 lead and one out in the ninth, the beleaguered closer entered and struck out rookie Brett Lawrie before failing to secure the game-ending out. Gregg allowed a wild pitch to tie the game and pinch-hitter J.P. Arencibia singled home pinch-runner Chris Woodward for the Jays’ victory.

“Obviously, I struck out the first guy and then go out there and end up walking a guy, a groundball base hit, hit a guy and another base hit,” Gregg said. “Obviously, you start strong and then that happens. Yeah, it wasn’t good.”

Gregg’s outing ruined an impressive run by five Orioles relievers — Zach Phillips, Chris Jakubauskas, Troy Patton, Willie Eyre and Clay Rapada — who combined for six scoreless and hitless innings.

“We were definitely aware of what was going on down there. We knew the innings were stacking up scoreless-wise,” said Jakubauskas, who pitched one perfect inning. “You feed off the last guy. The last guy has gone 2¹/
₃ scoreless you kind of want to jump on his back and see how many zeroes you can throw up in a row.”

That bullpen quintet — none of which was with the team on opening day — allowed one walk and struck out four in relief of starter Rick VandenHurk, who lasted just 2¹/
₃ innings in his first big-league start since last September.

VandenHurk gave up three runs on two walks, a hit batter and three hits, including homers by Jose Bautista (his major-league-leading 41st this year) and Lawrie (his ninth since an Aug. 5 call-up and fourth versus the Orioles). VandenHurk threw only 25 of his 53 pitches for strikes.

“Overall, I didn’t throw enough strikes, that’s what it comes down to,” VandenHurk said. “Everybody saw the ball-strike ratio. It’s not good enough.”

The game’s outcome, though, hinged on Gregg, a former Blue Jay who was being taunted with chants of “Gregg you [stink]” by some in the announced crowd of 17,742.

“You’ve got to roll with the punches. Save opps [have] been coming at a premium, so it is something you’ve got to deal with,” Gregg said. “It’s not the first one I’ve messed up and it probably won’t be the last one.”

Notes: Jones, who fouled a ball off his ankle Friday night but remained in the game, said the swelling increased overnight, but he was hoping to play Sunday. . . . Showalter had to shift Saturday’s lineup around, inserting Josh Bell at third base while moving Markakis from first to right, Matt Angle from right to center and Chris Davis from third to first. … RHP Jason Berken (right forearm/elbow) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday. He was scheduled to fly into Baltimore after a final side session in Sarasota on Saturday. … SS Pedro Florimon made his big-league debut Saturday and went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and also committed an error. He nearly had his first hit on a sacrifice bunt in the second inning but was called out at first. Replays showed he appeared to be safe.

— Baltimore Sun

CBSSports.com wire reports
Sep. 10, 2011

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays couldn’t get anything going against Baltimore’s relievers for six full innings. But when Kevin Gregg came on to wrap up the save, the Orioles’ bullpen didn’t just bend, it broke.

Pinch-hitter J.P. Arencibia hit a game-winning single with two out in the ninth as the Blue Jays rallied to beat the Orioles 5-4 on Saturday, snapping Baltimore’s winning streak at three games.

“We had a chance to win the game, we were one out, one pitch away,” manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s a frustrated clubhouse right now.”

The blown save was Gregg’s seventh in 27 chances, and he’s failed in three of his past six opportunities.

“Every one of them is tough, no matter how it happens,” he Gregg said. “You don’t like walking off the field like that.”

Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 41st home run, a two-run blast in the first, and Lawrie also went deep for the Blue Jays.

Jesse Litsch (6-3) pitched two innings for the win.

Trailing 4-3 to begin the inning, Toronto’s David Cooper struck out against Clay Rapada before Showalter called Gregg (0-3) in to finish. Gregg struck out Brett Lawrie but couldn’t wrap it up, walking Kelly Johnson, giving up a single to Jose Molina and hitting pinch-hitter Adam Loewen to load the bases. The closer then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Johnson to score the tying run. Arencibia followed with a game-winning single to left.

“We got into a situation there where we didn’t have much margin for error,” Showalter said.

The collapse came after five Orioles relievers had combined to pitch six no-hit innings, allowing just one walk.

“The guys did an outstanding job,” Gregg said. “The whole team put together a great effort and unfortunately I spoiled it at the end.”

After Rick VandenHurk left in the third, rookie Zach Phillips pitched 1 2/3 innings, Chris Jakubauskas worked one inning, Troy Patton went 2 1/3, Willie Eyre got one out and Clay Rapada got two outs.

“We were definitely aware of what was going on,” Jakubauskas said. “We knew that the innings were stacking up, scoreless-wise. Each guy who goes in, you feed off the last guy.”

The Orioles opened the scoring with three straight two-out singles in the first, matching the number of hits they collected in eight innings against Toronto right-hander Henderson Alvarez when he beat them at Baltimore on Aug. 31 for his first major league win. Nick Markakis and Vladimir Guerrero grounded singles to center before Chris Davis lined an RBI base hit to right.

The run snapped Alvarez’s scoreless innings streak at 14.

Toronto answered in the bottom half when Bautista hammered a 3-2 pitch into the second deck in left, scoring shortstop Yunel Escobar ahead of him.

An error by Alvarez helped Baltimore tie it in the second. Kyle Hudson reached on a bunt single and moved to second when Alvarez’s throw sailed into foul territory down the right field line. Pedro Florimon sacrificed Hudson to third and he scored on a two-out single by Matt Angle.

Toronto promptly reclaimed the lead when Lawrie homered to left on VandenHurk’s first pitch of the bottom half, his ninth.

Baltimore tied it again with another two-out rally in the third. Guerrero singled to right and scored when Davis doubled up the alley in right-center. Josh Bell followed with a single to center but Davis ran through third base coach John Russell’s stop sign and was thrown out at the plate for the third out.

Robert Andino doubled to begin the eighth against Litsch, took third on a grounder and scored when Guerrero doubled to center.

Guerrero went 3 for 4 and has eight hits in has past 13 at bats.

“Very quietly, he’s finishing with a little flurry,” Showalter said.

Making his first start of the season after two relief appearances, VandenHurk allowed three runs and three hits in 2 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.

“I just didn’t throw enough strikes,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

Alvarez allowed three runs and a season-high nine hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Escobar left in the second after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch from VandenHurk. He was replaced by Mike McCoy. X-rays were negative and Escobar is day to day.

Notes

Orioles OF Adam Jones was scratched from the lineup with a sore left ankle. Jones fouled a ball of his ankle Friday night and it swelled up overnight, but Showalter said Jones might play Sunday. … Blue Jays OF prospect Melvin Garcia has been suspended 50 games for using a performance-enhancing substance. Garcia is the third Blue Jays minor leaguer to be suspended this season. RHP Aderly De La Cruz and LHP Luillyn Guillen received 50 games bans July 14.

TORONTO (AP)—The Toronto Blue Jays couldn’t get anything going against
Baltimore’s relievers for six full innings. But when Kevin Gregg(notes) came on to wrap
up the save, the Orioles’ bullpen didn’t just bend, it broke.

Pinch-hitter J.P. Arencibia(notes) hit a game-winning single with two out in the
ninth as the Blue Jays rallied to beat the Orioles 5-4 on Saturday, snapping
Baltimore’s winning streak at three games.

“We had a chance to win the game, we were one out, one pitch away,”
manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s a frustrated clubhouse right now.”

The blown save was Gregg’s seventh in 27 chances, and he’s failed in three
of his past six opportunities.

“Every one of them is tough, no matter how it happens,” he Gregg said.
“You don’t like walking off the field like that.”

Jose Bautista(notes) hit his major league-leading 41st home run, a two-run blast in
the first, and Lawrie also went deep for the Blue Jays.

Jesse Litsch(notes) (6-3) pitched two innings for the win.

Trailing 4-3 to begin the inning, Toronto’s David Cooper(notes) struck out against
Clay Rapada(notes) before Showalter called Gregg (0-3) in to finish. Gregg struck out
Brett Lawrie(notes) but couldn’t wrap it up, walking Kelly Johnson(notes), giving up a single
to Jose Molina(notes) and hitting pinch-hitter Adam Loewen(notes) to load the bases. The
closer then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Johnson to score the tying run.
Arencibia followed with a game-winning single to left.

“We got into a situation there where we didn’t have much margin for
error,” Showalter said.

The collapse came after five Orioles relievers had combined to pitch six
no-hit innings, allowing just one walk.

“The guys did an outstanding job,” Gregg said. “The whole team put
together a great effort and unfortunately I spoiled it at the end.”

After Rick VandenHurk(notes) left in the third, rookie Zach Phillips(notes) pitched 1 2-3
innings, Chris Jakubauskas(notes) worked one inning, Troy Patton(notes) went 2 1-3, Willie
Eyre(notes) got one out and Clay Rapada got two outs.

“We were definitely aware of what was going on,” Jakubauskas said. “We
knew that the innings were stacking up, scoreless-wise. Each guy who goes in,
you feed off the last guy.”

The Orioles opened the scoring with three straight two-out singles in the
first, matching the number of hits they collected in eight innings against
Toronto right-hander Henderson Alvarez(notes) when he beat them at Baltimore on Aug. 31
for his first major league win. Nick Markakis(notes) and Vladimir Guerrero(notes) grounded
singles to center before Chris Davis(notes) lined an RBI base hit to right.

The run snapped Alvarez’s scoreless innings streak at 14.

Toronto answered in the bottom half when Bautista hammered a 3-2 pitch into
the second deck in left, scoring shortstop Yunel Escobar(notes) ahead of him.

An error by Alvarez helped Baltimore tie it in the second. Kyle Hudson(notes)
reached on a bunt single and moved to second when Alvarez’s throw sailed into
foul territory down the right field line. Pedro Florimon(notes) sacrificed Hudson to
third and he scored on a two-out single by Matt Angle(notes).

Toronto promptly reclaimed the lead when Lawrie homered to left on
VandenHurk’s first pitch of the bottom half, his ninth.

Baltimore tied it again with another two-out rally in the third. Guerrero
singled to right and scored when Davis doubled up the alley in right-center.
Josh Bell(notes) followed with a single to center but Davis ran through third base
coach John Russell’s stop sign and was thrown out at the plate for the third
out.

Robert Andino(notes) doubled to begin the eighth against Litsch, took third on a
grounder and scored when Guerrero doubled to center.

Guerrero went 3 for 4 and has eight hits in has past 13 at bats.

“Very quietly, he’s finishing with a little flurry,” Showalter said.

Making his first start of the season after two relief appearances,
VandenHurk allowed three runs and three hits in 2 1-3 innings. He walked two and
struck out one.

“I just didn’t throw enough strikes,” he said. “That’s what it comes down
to.”

Alvarez allowed three runs and a season-high nine hits in seven innings. He
walked one and struck out four.

Escobar left in the second after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch from
VandenHurk. He was replaced by Mike McCoy(notes). X-rays were negative and Escobar is
day-to-day.

NOTES: Orioles OF Adam Jones(notes) was scratched from the lineup with a sore left
ankle. Jones fouled a ball of his ankle Friday night and it swelled up
overnight, but Showalter said Jones might play Sunday. … Florimon made his
major league debut. … Blue Jays OF prospect Melvin Garcia has been suspended
50 games for using a performance-enhancing substance. Garcia is the third Blue
Jays minor leaguer to be suspended this season. RHP Aderly De La Cruz and LHP
Luillyn Guillen received 50 games bans July 14.

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays couldn’t get anything going against Baltimore’s relievers for six full innings. But when Kevin Gregg came on to wrap up the save, the Orioles’ bullpen didn’t just bend, it broke.

Pinch-hitter J.P. Arencibia hit a game-winning single with two out in the ninth as the Blue Jays rallied to beat the Orioles 5-4 on Saturday, snapping Baltimore’s winning streak at three games.

“We had a chance to win the game, we were one out, one pitch away,” manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s a frustrated clubhouse right now.”

The blown save was Gregg’s seventh in 27 chances, and he’s failed in three of his past six opportunities.

“Every one of them is tough, no matter how it happens,” he Gregg said. “You don’t like walking off the field like that.”

Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 41st home run, a two-run blast in the first, and Lawrie also went deep for the Blue Jays.

Jesse Litsch (6-3) pitched two innings for the win.

Trailing 4-3 to begin the inning, Toronto’s David Cooper struck out against Clay Rapada before Showalter called Gregg (0-3) in to finish. Gregg struck out Brett Lawrie but couldn’t wrap it up, walking Kelly Johnson, giving up a single to Jose Molina and hitting pinch-hitter Adam Loewen to load the bases. The closer then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Johnson to score the tying run. Arencibia followed with a game-winning single to left.

“We got into a situation there where we didn’t have much margin for error,” Showalter said.

The collapse came after five Orioles relievers had combined to pitch six no-hit innings, allowing just one walk.

“The guys did an outstanding job,” Gregg said. “The whole team put together a great effort and unfortunately I spoiled it at the end.”

After Rick VandenHurk left in the third, rookie Zach Phillips pitched 1 2-3 innings, Chris Jakubauskas worked one inning, Troy Patton went 2 1-3, Willie Eyre got one out and Clay Rapada got two outs.

“We were definitely aware of what was going on,” Jakubauskas said. “We knew that the innings were stacking up, scoreless-wise. Each guy who goes in, you feed off the last guy.”

The Orioles opened the scoring with three straight two-out singles in the first, matching the number of hits they collected in eight innings against Toronto right-hander Henderson Alvarez when he beat them at Baltimore on Aug. 31 for his first major league win. Nick Markakis and Vladimir Guerrero grounded singles to center before Chris Davis lined an RBI base hit to right.

The run snapped Alvarez’s scoreless innings streak at 14.

Toronto answered in the bottom half when Bautista hammered a 3-2 pitch into the second deck in left, scoring shortstop Yunel Escobar ahead of him.

An error by Alvarez helped Baltimore tie it in the second. Kyle Hudson reached on a bunt single and moved to second when Alvarez’s throw sailed into foul territory down the right field line. Pedro Florimon sacrificed Hudson to third and he scored on a two-out single by Matt Angle.

Toronto promptly reclaimed the lead when Lawrie homered to left on VandenHurk’s first pitch of the bottom half, his ninth.

Baltimore tied it again with another two-out rally in the third. Guerrero singled to right and scored when Davis doubled up the alley in right-center. Josh Bell followed with a single to center but Davis ran through third base coach John Russell’s stop sign and was thrown out at the plate for the third out.

Robert Andino doubled to begin the eighth against Litsch, took third on a grounder and scored when Guerrero doubled to center.

Guerrero went 3 for 4 and has eight hits in has past 13 at bats.

“Very quietly, he’s finishing with a little flurry,” Showalter said.

Making his first start of the season after two relief appearances, VandenHurk allowed three runs and three hits in 2 1-3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.

“I just didn’t throw enough strikes,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

Alvarez allowed three runs and a season-high nine hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Escobar left in the second after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch from VandenHurk. He was replaced by Mike McCoy. X-rays were negative and Escobar is day-to-day.

NOTES: Orioles OF Adam Jones was scratched from the lineup with a sore left ankle. Jones fouled a ball of his ankle Friday night and it swelled up overnight, but Showalter said Jones might play Sunday. … Florimon made his major league debut. … Blue Jays OF prospect Melvin Garcia has been suspended 50 games for using a performance-enhancing substance. Garcia is the third Blue Jays minor leaguer to be suspended this season. RHP Aderly De La Cruz and LHP Luillyn Guillen received 50 games bans July 14.

BALTIMORE — The Toronto Blue Jays have activated right-hander Carlos Villanueva from the 15-day disabled list and designated reliever Brian Tallet for assignment.

Toronto announced the moves before Wednesday’s game at Baltimore.

Villanueva was placed on the DL on Aug. 4 with a sore right forearm. He is 6-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 26 games, 13 starts.

Tallet was seeking his first big league save on Tuesday night, but instead surrendered two 10th-inning runs in a 6-5 loss to the Orioles.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Orioles starter Jo-Jo Reyes would like to make an impact against the Toronto Blue Jays, who placed the pitcher on waivers earlier this month. (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press)

Ryan Adams is providing an unexpected impact for the last-place Baltimore Orioles.

Jo-Jo Reyes would like to make one of his own against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Adams will try to continue his production at the plate while Reyes looks to beat his former club Wednesday night in the first meeting since being waived.

The Orioles (54-79) are at the bottom of the AL East, but have won seven of nine while Adams is hitting .333 with four doubles and four RBIs since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 22.

The rookie second baseman turned in a clutch performance Tuesday, capping a two-run 10th with an RBI single in a 6-5 win over Toronto (67-68) to open this three-game series at Camden Yards.

“In that situation, I was just trying to get the ball in the air,” Adams said. “They were playing [the outfield] in and I got a pitch up. Right away, I knew it was going to be deep enough to get him in.”

Reyes (7-10, 5.26 ERA) may find some extra motivation as he tries to help Baltimore win just its second series since late June.

He went 5-8 with a 5.40 ERA in 20 starts for Toronto before the club designated him for assignment on July 23. He gave up 15 runs in 9 2-3 innings over his final two starts with the Jays, and the Orioles claimed him off waivers earlier this month.

“Yeah, you know, of course,” Reyes told the team’s official website. “They let me go, so of course I’m going to have a little chip on my shoulder. But I can’t let that affect my outing.”

The left-hander is 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA in five games – four starts – since joining Baltimore, but is lacking consistency.

Reyes has alternated wins and losses over those four starts, allowing two runs in 12 innings in the victories. However, he’s surrendered nine runs and 13 hits in nine innings of those losses.

Reyes was solid in a 6-1 victory at Minnesota on Thursday, allowing one run and five hits in six innings to help complete a four-game sweep.

He’ll try to keep Toronto slugger Jose Bautista in check, something the Orioles have been very successful at this season. Bautista, tied for the major league lead with 38 homers, is batting .178 (8 for 45) with no home runs against Baltimore in 2011.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six and are hitting .206 during a 3-8 skid. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu continues to run the team in the absence of manager John Farrell, who is recovering from a bout of pneumonia.

Toronto is expected to turn to Henderson Alvarez (0-2, 4.76), who faces the Orioles for the first time.

The rookie right-hander has lost his last two trips to the mound despite a respectable 3.75 ERA. His offense has supported him with two runs in those two games.

Alvarez surrendered four runs and four hits — three homers — while walking two and hitting another batter in six innings of a 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday.

The Blue Jays have lost six of 10 at Camden Yards after a six-game win streak there.

BALTIMORE — Brian Tallet didn’t mince words or make excuses. Called upon to record his first career save, the Toronto Blue Jays left-hander didn’t get the job done.

“Yeah, it was a pretty (bad) result, huh?” Tallet said after coughing up two 10th-inning runs in a 6-5 Baltimore Orioles victory over Toronto on Tuesday night. “It’s what happens when you don’t throw strikes early in the game, early when you get in there and let those guys get on base. Anything can happen and that’s what happened.”

The Blue Jays didn’t make the most of early offensive opportunities and, while they took advantage of numerous mistakes by the bumbling Orioles, they couldn’t put Baltimore away.

In the 10th, they ran into some old-fashioned bad luck, when right-hander Casey Janssen came up with a tight lat in his throwing shoulder and couldn’t return to the mound after dispatching the Orioles on 13 pitches in the ninth.

“We’re going to evaluate him, see where he’s at,” said acting Toronto manager Don Wakamatsu, adding that he didn’t believe Janssen’s injury was serious.

Wakamatsu was filling in for manager John Farrell, who remained in Toronto while being treated for pneumonia. Farrell is expected to miss the three-game series in Baltimore.

The Orioles botched their bunt defence, muffed an infield pop fly for an error, twice failed to get bunts down successfully and blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning. Yet one swing of rookie Ryan Adams’ bat erased their many miscues.

“It wasn’t looking good there for a minute, but we battled back,” said Adams, who capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single.

Matt Wieters led off the Baltimore 10th by drawing a walk off Tallet (0-2). Mark Reynolds walked and, after Robert Andino bunted a foul third strike, pinch hitter Jake Fox hit a game-tying single to right with Reynolds taking third.

Adams followed with a deep fly ball off the warning track in right-centre beyond a drawn-in outfield.

“In that situation, I was just trying to get the ball in the air,” Adams said. “They were playing (the outfield) in and I got a pitch up. Right away, I knew it was going to be deep enough to get him in.”

The victory went to Willie Eyre (1-0), whose wild pitch in the top of the 10th had put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4. That was the last in a long line of mental and physical mistakes that failed to undo the resilient Orioles.

Andino’s 10th-inning bunt attempt was the second time he was unable to advance runners, and some shoddy defence in the ninth contributed to a delayed — and undefended double steal — as Toronto tied the game on Yunel Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

“I know exactly what should have happened and didn’t happen and it won’t happen again, especially considering the people,” said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter when asked about the wacky bunt play.

Wieters homered for Baltimore, which has won seven of nine.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six.

“You’ve got to take it as it comes and analyze it and you’ve just got to suck it up and move on to tomorrow,” said Toronto’s Brett Lawrie. “There’s no sense in dwelling on it. You’ve got to come back tomorrow and keep playing.”

Lawrie’s sixth homer staked Toronto to a 3-0 lead in the second. After one-out walks to Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson, the native of Langley, B.C., ripped a 1-2 curveball from Jeremy Guthrie into the left-field stands.

Wieters’ two-run shot cut the lead to a run in the bottom of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero led off with a single and Wieters homered to centre off Brett Cecil, his 15th.

Cecil’s throwing error in the fourth allowed Baltimore to tie the game at 3. Andino doubled with two down and came around on an infield single by Nolan Reimold after Cecil threw wildly past first base.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with none down in the fifth, but squandered the opportunity. Encarnacion bounced into a 1-2-3 double play and Johnson flied out to centre.

“There were several different opportunities to score, to do some things and the bottom line is we put ourselves in a position,” Wakamatsu said. “We talked about not giving up and going to the end.”

The Blue Jays didn’t make the most of early offensive opportunities and, while they took advantage of numerous mistakes by the bumbling Orioles, they couldn’t put Baltimore away.

In the 10th, they ran into some old-fashioned bad luck, when right-hander Casey Janssen came up with a tight lat in his throwing shoulder and couldn’t return to the mound after dispatching the Orioles on 13 pitches in the ninth.

“We’re going to evaluate him, see where he’s at,” said acting Toronto manager Don Wakamatsu, adding that he didn’t believe Janssen’s injury was serious.

Wakamatsu was filling in for manager John Farrell, who remained in Toronto while being treated for pneumonia. Farrell is expected to miss the three-game series in Baltimore.

The Orioles botched their bunt defense, muffed an infield pop fly for an error, twice failed to get bunts down successfully and blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning. Yet one swing of rookie Ryan Adams’ bat erased their many miscues.

“It wasn’t looking good there for a minute, but we battled back,” said Adams, who capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single.

Matt Wieters led off the Baltimore 10th by drawing a walk off Tallet (0-2). Mark Reynolds walked and, after Robert Andino bunted a foul third strike, pinch hitter Jake Fox hit a game-tying single to right with Reynolds taking third.

Adams followed with a deep fly ball off the warning track in right-center beyond a drawn-in outfield.

“In that situation, I was just trying to get the ball in the air,” Adams said. “They were playing (the outfield) in and I got a pitch up. Right away, I knew it was going to be deep enough to get him in.”

The victory went to Willie Eyre (1-0), whose wild pitch in the top of the 10th had put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4. That was the last in a long line of mental and physical mistakes that failed to undo the resilient Orioles.

Andino’s 10th-inning bunt attempt was the second time he was unable to advance runners, and some shoddy defense in the ninth contributed to a delayed — and undefended double steal — as Toronto tied the game on Yunel Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

“I know exactly what should have happened and didn’t happen and it won’t happen again, especially considering the people,” said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter when asked about the wacky bunt play.

Wieters homered for Baltimore, which has won seven of nine.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six.

“You’ve got to take it as it comes and analyze it and you’ve just got to suck it up and move on to tomorrow,” said Toronto’s Brett Lawrie. “There’s no sense in dwelling on it. You’ve got to come back tomorrow and keep playing.”

BALTIMORE (AP) — Brian Tallet didn’t mince words or make excuses. Called upon to record his first career save, the Toronto Blue Jays left-hander didn’t get the job done.

“Yeah, it was a pretty (bad) result, huh?” Tallet said after coughing up two 10th-inning runs in a 6-5 Baltimore Orioles victory over Toronto on Tuesday night. “It’s what happens when you don’t throw strikes early in the game, early when you get in there and let those guys get on base. Anything can happen and that’s what happened.”

The Blue Jays didn’t make the most of early offensive opportunities and, while they took advantage of numerous mistakes by the bumbling Orioles, they couldn’t put Baltimore away.

In the 10th, they ran into some old-fashioned bad luck, when right-hander Casey Janssen came up with a tight lat in his throwing shoulder and couldn’t return to the mound after dispatching the Orioles on 13 pitches in the ninth.

“We’re going to evaluate him, see where he’s at,” said acting Toronto manager Don Wakamatsu, adding that he didn’t believe Janssen’s injury was serious.

Wakamatsu was filling in for manager John Farrell, who remained in Toronto while being treated for pneumonia. Farrell is expected to miss the three-game series in Baltimore.

The Orioles botched their bunt defense, muffed an infield pop fly for an error, twice failed to get bunts down successfully and blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning. Yet one swing of rookie Ryan Adams’ bat erased their many miscues.

“It wasn’t looking good there for a minute, but we battled back,” said Adams, who capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single.

Matt Wieters led off the Baltimore 10th by drawing a walk off Tallet (0-2). Mark Reynolds walked and, after Robert Andino bunted a foul third strike, pinch hitter Jake Fox hit a game-tying single to right with Reynolds taking third.

Adams followed with a deep fly ball off the warning track in right-center beyond a drawn-in outfield.

“In that situation, I was just trying to get the ball in the air,” Adams said. “They were playing (the outfield) in and I got a pitch up. Right away, I knew it was going to be deep enough to get him in.”

The victory went to Willie Eyre (1-0), whose wild pitch in the top of the 10th had put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4. That was the last in a long line of mental and physical mistakes that failed to undo the resilient Orioles.

Andino’s 10th-inning bunt attempt was the second time he was unable to advance runners, and some shoddy defense in the ninth contributed to a delayed — and undefended double steal — as Toronto tied the game on Yunel Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

“I know exactly what should have happened and didn’t happen and it won’t happen again, especially considering the people,” said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter when asked about the wacky bunt play.

Wieters homered for Baltimore, which has won seven of nine.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six.

“You’ve got to take it as it comes and analyze it and you’ve just got to suck it up and move on to tomorrow,” said Toronto’s Brett Lawrie. “There’s no sense in dwelling on it. You’ve got to come back tomorrow and keep playing.”

Lawrie’s sixth homer staked Toronto to a 3-0 lead in the second. After one-out walks to Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson, Lawrie ripped a 1-2 curveball from Jeremy Guthrie into the left-field stands.

Wieters’ two-run shot cut the lead to a run in the bottom of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero led off with a single and Wieters homered to center off Brett Cecil, his 15th.

Cecil’s throwing error in the fourth allowed Baltimore to tie the game at 3. Andino doubled with two down and came around on an infield single by Nolan Reimold after Cecil threw wildly past first base.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with none down in the fifth, but squandered the opportunity. Encarnacion bounced into a 1-2-3 double play and Johnson flied out to center.

“There were several different opportunities to score, to do some things and the bottom line is we put ourselves in a position,” Wakamatsu said. “We talked about not giving up and going to the end.”

Guerrero’s RBI double in the bottom of the fifth put the Orioles ahead, scoring Adam Jones, who had drawn a one-out walk.

Cecil yielded four runs on eight hits over six innings, walking two and striking out four. Guthrie allowed three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out five.

Trying to protect a 4-3 lead in the ninth, Baltimore’s Kevin Gregg instead blew his fifth save in 24 chances. J.P. Arencibia led off with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Dewayne Wise. Mike McCoy walked on four pitches and, when the Orioles flubbed their wheel-play defense on Escobar’s bunt attempt, both runners moved up on an unconventional double steal, each benefiting from an unprotected base.

Escobar followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to right.

NOTES: Baltimore snapped an eight-game losing streak in one-run games. … Toronto reliever Jon Rauch completed a 25-pitch simulated game Tuesday afternoon and appears close to rejoining the active roster. Rauch, who underwent an appendectomy August 16, will be re-evaluated Wednesday but is likely to be activated off the disabled list Thursday, according to Wakamatsu. … 1B Chris Davis, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, took 25 swings off a tee and participated in throwing drills at the Orioles complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Tuesday. … Orioles RHP Jason Berken’s wife Emily gave birth to a 5-lb., 12-oz. baby girl, Hadley Lane, on Tuesday afternoon. … In 27 starts this season, Guthrie has yet to win consecutive decisions. … Toronto right-hander Henderson Alvarez (0-2) faces Baltimore lefty Jo-Jo Reyes (7-10) on Wednesday.

BALTIMORE — Ryan Adams capped a two-run, 10th-inning rally with an RBI single and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Tuesday night.

Matt Wieters led off the Baltimore 10th by drawing a walk off Brian Tallet (0-2), who was trying for his first career save. Mark Reynolds walked and, after Robert Andino bunted a foul third strike, pinch hitter Jake Fox hit a game-tying single to right with Reynolds taking third.

Adams followed with a deep fly ball off the warning track beyond a drawn-in outfield.

The victory went to Willie Eyre (1-0), whose wild pitch in the top of the 10th had put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4.

The Blue Jays were without manager John Farrell, who is being treated for pneumonia in Toronto and is expected to miss the three-game series. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu ran the team in Farrell’s absence.

Wieters homered for Baltimore, which has won seven of nine.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six.

Brett Lawrie’s sixth homer staked Toronto to a 3-0 lead in the second. After one-out walks to Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson, Lawrie ripped a 1-2 curveball from Jeremy Guthrie into the left-field stands.

Wieters’ two-run shot cut the lead to a run in the bottom of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero led off with a single and Wieters homered to centre off Brett Cecil, his 15th.

Cecil’s throwing error in the fourth allowed Baltimore to tie the game at 3. Andino doubled with two down and came around on an infield single by Nolan Reimould after Cecil threw wildly past first base.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with none down in the fifth, but squandered the opportunity. Encarnacion bounced into a 1-2-3 double play and Johnson flied out to centre.

Guerrero’s RBI double in the bottom of the fifth put the Orioles ahead, scoring Adam Jones, who had drawn a one-out walk.

Cecil yielded four runs on eight hits over six innings, walking two and striking out four. Guthrie allowed three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out five.

Trying to protect a 4-3 lead in the ninth, Baltimore’s Kevin Gregg, a former Blue Jays closer, instead blew his fifth save in 24 chances. J.P. Arencibia led off with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Dewayne Wise. Mike McCoy walked on four pitches and, when the Orioles flubbed their wheel-play defence on Escobar’s bunt attempt, both runners moved up on an unconventional double steal, each benefiting from an unprotected base.

Escobar followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to right.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles botched their bunt defence, muffed an infield pop fly for an error, twice failed to get bunts down successfully and blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning.

Yet one swing of rookie Ryan Adams’ bat erased their many miscues.

Adams capped a two-run, 10th-inning rally with an RBI single and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Tuesday night.

“It wasn’t looking good there for a minute, but we battled back,” said Adams.

Matt Wieters led off the Baltimore 10th by drawing a walk off Brian Tallet (0-2), who was trying for his first career save. Mark Reynolds walked and, after Robert Andino bunted a foul third strike, pinch hitter Jake Fox hit a game-tying single to right with Reynolds taking third.

Adams followed with a deep fly ball off the warning track in right-centre beyond a drawn-in outfield.

“In that situation, I was just trying to get the ball in the air,” Adams said. “They were playing (the outfield) in and I got a pitch up. Right away, I knew it was going to be deep enough to get him in.”

The victory went to Willie Eyre (1-0), whose wild pitch in the top of the 10th had put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4. That was the last in a long like of mental and physical mistakes that failed to undo the resilient Orioles.

Andino’s 10th-inning bunt attempt was the second time he was unable to advance runners, and some shoddy defence in the ninth contributed to a delayed — and undefended double steal — as Toronto tied the game on Yunel Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

“I know exactly what should have happened and didn’t happen and it won’t happen again, especially considering the people,” said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter when asked about the wacky bunt play.

The Blue Jays were without manager John Farrell, who is being treated for pneumonia in Toronto and is expected to miss the three-game series. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu ran the team in Farrell’s absence.

Toronto wanted to send Casey Janssen out for the 10th, but the right-hander came up with a tightness in a shoulder muscle, shelving him after a 13-pitch scoreless ninth.

“We’re going to evaluate him, see where he’s at,” said Wakamatsu, adding that he didn’t believe Janssen’s injury was serious.

That put Tallet into an unfamiliar role.

“Yeah, it was a pretty (bad) result, huh?” Tallet said. “It’s what happens when you don’t throw strikes early in the game, early when you get in there and let those guys get on base. Anything can happen and that’s what happened.”

Wieters homered for Baltimore, which has won seven of nine.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six.

“You’ve got to take it as it comes and analyze it and you’ve just got to suck it up and move on to tomorrow,” said Toronto’s Brett Lawrie. “There’s no sense in dwelling on it. You’ve got to come back tomorrow and keep playing.”

Lawrie’s sixth homer staked Toronto to a 3-0 lead in the second. After one-out walks to Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson, the native of Langley, B.C, ripped a 1-2 curveball from Jeremy Guthrie into the left-field stands.

Wieters’ two-run shot cut the lead to a run in the bottom of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero led off with a single and Wieters homered to centre off Brett Cecil, his 15th.

Cecil’s throwing error in the fourth allowed Baltimore to tie the game at 3. Andino doubled with two down and came around on an infield single by Nolan Reimold after Cecil threw wildly past first base.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with none down in the fifth, but squandered the opportunity. Encarnacion bounced into a 1-2-3 double play and Johnson flied out to centre.

“There were several different opportunities to score, to do some things and the bottom line is we put ourselves in a position,” Wakamatsu said. “We talked about not giving up and going to the end.”

Guerrero’s RBI double in the bottom of the fifth put the Orioles ahead, scoring Adam Jones, who had drawn a one-out walk.

Cecil yielded four runs on eight hits over six innings, walking two and striking out four. Guthrie allowed three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out five.

Trying to protect a 4-3 lead in the ninth, Baltimore’s Kevin Gregg instead blew his fifth save in 24 chances. J.P. Arencibia led off with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Dewayne Wise. Mike McCoy walked on four pitches and, when the Orioles flubbed their wheel-play defence on Escobar’s bunt attempt, both runners moved up on an unconventional double steal, each benefiting from an unprotected base.

Escobar followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to right.

.NOTES: Baltimore snapped an eight-game losing streak in one-run games. … Toronto reliever Jon Rauch completed a 25-pitch simulated game Tuesday afternoon and appears close to rejoining the active roster. Rauch, who underwent an appendectomy August 16, will be re-evaluated Wednesday but is likely to be activated off the disabled list Thursday, according to Wakamatsu. … 1B Chris Davis, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, took 25 swings off a tee and participated in throwing drills at the Orioles complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Tuesday. … Orioles RHP Jason Berken’s wife Emily gave birth to a 5-lb., 12-oz. baby girl, Hadley Lane, on Tuesday afternoon. … In 27 starts this season, Guthrie has yet to win consecutive decisions. … Toronto right-hander Henderson Alvarez (0-2) faces Baltimore lefty Jo-Jo Reyes (7-10) on Wednesday.

BALTIMORE Ryan Adams capped a two-run, 10th-inning rally with an RBI single and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Tuesday night.

Matt Wieters led off the Baltimore 10th by drawing a walk off Brian Tallet (0-2), who was trying for his first career save. Mark Reynolds walked and, after Robert Andino bunted a foul third strike, pinch-hitter Jake Fox hit a game-tying single to right with Reynolds taking third.

Adams followed with a deep fly ball off the warning track beyond a drawn-in outfield.

The victory went to Willie Eyre (1-0), whose wild pitch in the top of the 10th had put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4.

The Blue Jays were without manager John Farrell, who is being treated for pneumonia in Toronto and is expected to miss the three-game series. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu ran the team in Farrell’s absence.

Wieters homered for Baltimore, which has won seven of nine.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six.

Brett Lawrie’s sixth homer staked Toronto to a 3-0 lead in the second. After one-out walks to Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson, Lawrie ripped a 1-2 curveball from Jeremy Guthrie into the left-field stands.

Wieters’ two-run shot cut the lead to a run in the bottom of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero led off with a single and Wieters homered to centre off Brett Cecil, his 15th.

Cecil’s throwing error in the fourth allowed Baltimore to tie the game at 3. Andino doubled with two down and came around on an infield single by Nolan Reimold after Cecil threw wildly past first base.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with none down in the fifth, but squandered the opportunity. Encarnacion bounced into a 1-2-3 double-play and Johnson flied out to centre.

Guerrero’s RBI double in the bottom of the fifth put the Orioles ahead, scoring Adam Jones, who had drawn a one-out walk.

Cecil yielded four runs on eight hits over six innings, walking two and striking out four. Guthrie allowed three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out five.

Trying to protect a 4-3 lead in the ninth, Baltimore’s Kevin Gregg, a former Blue Jays closer, instead blew his fifth save in 24 chances. J.P. Arencibia led off with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Dewayne Wise. Mike McCoy walked on four pitches and, when the Orioles flubbed their wheel-play defence on Escobar’s bunt attempt, both runners moved up on an unconventional double steal, each benefiting from an unprotected base.

Escobar followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to right.

NOTES: Toronto reliever Jon Rauch completed a 25-pitch simulated game Tuesday afternoon and appears close to rejoining the active roster. Rauch, who underwent an appendectomy August 16, will be re-evaluated Wednesday but is likely to be activated off the disabled list Thursday, according to Wakamatsu. … 1B Chris Davis, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, took 25 swings off a tee and participated in throwing drills at the Orioles complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Tuesday. … Orioles RHP Jason Berken’s wife Emily gave birth to a 5-lb., 12-oz. baby girl, Hadley Lane, on Tuesday afternoon. … In 27 starts this season, Guthrie has yet to win consecutive decisions. … Toronto right-hander Henderson Alvarez (0-2) faces Baltimore lefty Jo-Jo Reyes (7-10) on Wednesday.

The Associated Press

Baltimore’s Matt Wieters, right, celebrates his home run with Vladimir Guerrero in the second inning Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Brian Tallet didn’t mince words or make excuses. Called upon to record his first career save, the Toronto Blue Jays left-hander didn’t get the job done.

“Yeah, it was a pretty (bad) result, huh?” Tallet said after coughing up two 10th-inning runs in a 6-5 Baltimore Orioles victory over Toronto on Tuesday night. “It’s what happens when you don’t throw strikes early in the game, early when you get in there and let those guys get on base. Anything can happen and that’s what happened.”

The Blue Jays didn’t make the most of early offensive opportunities and, while they took advantage of numerous mistakes by the bumbling Orioles, they couldn’t put Baltimore away.

In the 10th, they ran into some old-fashioned bad luck, when right-hander Casey Janssen came up with a tight lat in his throwing shoulder and couldn’t return to the mound after dispatching the Orioles on 13 pitches in the ninth.

“We’re going to evaluate him, see where he’s at,” said acting Toronto manager Don Wakamatsu, adding that he didn’t believe Janssen’s injury was serious.

Wakamatsu was filling in for manager John Farrell, who remained in Toronto while being treated for pneumonia. Farrell is expected to miss the three-game series in Baltimore.

The Orioles botched their bunt defence, muffed an infield pop fly for an error, twice failed to get bunts down successfully and blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning. Yet one swing of rookie Ryan Adams’ bat erased their many miscues.

“It wasn’t looking good there for a minute, but we battled back,” said Adams, who capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single.

Matt Wieters led off the Baltimore 10th by drawing a walk off Tallet (0-2). Mark Reynolds walked and, after Robert Andino bunted a foul third strike, pinch hitter Jake Fox hit a game-tying single to right with Reynolds taking third.

Adams followed with a deep fly ball off the warning track in right-centre beyond a drawn-in outfield.

“In that situation, I was just trying to get the ball in the air,” Adams said. “They were playing (the outfield) in and I got a pitch up. Right away, I knew it was going to be deep enough to get him in.”

The victory went to Willie Eyre (1-0), whose wild pitch in the top of the 10th had put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4. That was the last in a long line of mental and physical mistakes that failed to undo the resilient Orioles.

Andino’s 10th-inning bunt attempt was the second time he was unable to advance runners, and some shoddy defence in the ninth contributed to a delayed — and undefended double steal — as Toronto tied the game on Yunel Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

“I know exactly what should have happened and didn’t happen and it won’t happen again, especially considering the people,” said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter when asked about the wacky bunt play.

‘Take it as it comes’

Wieters homered for Baltimore, which has won seven of nine.

The Blue Jays have lost five of six.

“You’ve got to take it as it comes and analyze it and you’ve just got to suck it up and move on to tomorrow,” said Toronto’s Brett Lawrie. “There’s no sense in dwelling on it. You’ve got to come back tomorrow and keep playing.”

Lawrie’s sixth homer staked Toronto to a 3-0 lead in the second. After one-out walks to Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson, the native of Langley, B.C., ripped a 1-2 curveball from Jeremy Guthrie into the left-field stands.

Wieters’ two-run shot cut the lead to a run in the bottom of the inning. Vladimir Guerrero led off with a single and Wieters homered to centre off Brett Cecil, his 15th.

Cecil’s throwing error in the fourth allowed Baltimore to tie the game at 3. Andino doubled with two down and came around on an infield single by Nolan Reimold after Cecil threw wildly past first base.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with none down in the fifth, but squandered the opportunity. Encarnacion bounced into a 1-2-3 double play and Johnson flied out to centre.

“There were several different opportunities to score, to do some things and the bottom line is we put ourselves in a position,” Wakamatsu said. “We talked about not giving up and going to the end.”