rogers centre

Closer Jim Johnson blew his fourth save in his past five opportunities, allowing four runs, four hits and a walk in the inning as the Orioles were unable to preserve a three-run ninth-inning lead with a 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays.

Over the first three games of this weekend¿s series in Toronto, the Orioles and Blue Jays have combined for 76 hits and 45 runs here at the Rogers Centre.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, who now has nine homers on the season, has homered in each of the first three games of the series here in Toronto.

For the second time within an 18-hour span, the Orioles bats jumped on a Toronto starter early.

The Orioles have placed right-hander Pedro Strop on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain and recalled right-hander Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk.

Veteran pitcher Freddy Garcia was able to hold off that scary Toronto Blue Jays lineup for five innings on a bright Saturday afternoon when the ball was flying out of Rogers Centre, which is a testament to his ability to move the ball around and make the most of what¿s left in his 36-year-old arm. But don't give him too much credit.

It's become a popular question this year, whether Orioles third baseman Manny Machado belongs in the same class as the Angels' Mike Trout and the Nationals' Bryce Harper.

In their third victory in four games, the Orioles hit four homers, including J.J. Hardy's three-run blast to left off Blue Jays rookie Sean Nolin just three batters into the game.

Troy Patton has struggled with his control this season, and that fact was glaring Thursday, when he retired the first two batters he faced on four pitches, then went on to issue back-to-back walks, including one to No. 9 hitter Munenori Kawasaki.

The Orioles plan to recall right-hander Steve Johnson as an extra relief arm if the club¿s bullpen gets extended tonight against the Blue Jays.

Kevin Gausman, who made his major league debut on Thursday, will remain in the Orioles¿ starting rotation for the time being. If anything, the poise he showed on the mound in his first start gives the Orioles greater confidence that he can help the team win at the big league level.

In the sixth inning, Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth raced into foul ground and went into the stands full speed giving chase to a fly ball off the bat of Colby Rasmus. As McLouth went back to his position, an opened aluminum can was thrown onto the field.

It didn¿t take long for Kevin Gausman to show why the Orioles have such high hopes for their prized right-hander.

Kevin Gausman arrived in the visiting clubhouse of the Rogers Centre on Thursday to find about $300 worth of powdered mini doughnuts stacked inside and at the base of his locker, another nice welcoming gift from center fielder Adam Jones.

To clear a roster spot for right-hander Miguel Gonzalez's return from the disabled list Tuesday, the Orioles optioned right-hander Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk after just one start with the big league club.

Jair Jurrjens has been sent to Norfolk, opening up his start Thursday in Toronto.

Smokers who had previously been allowed to smoke in designated areas now will have to leave the stadiums

Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake's Legends of The Summer stadium tour coming to M&T Bank Stadium on Aug. 8. Tickets on sale Feb. 28.

Orioles fans clearly came prepared for a playoff celebration today. There are homemade signs everywhere and the energy in the stands is terrific. On the home plate dugout side, the fans are giving the O¿s a standing ovation every time they come off the field between innings.

Down the stretch is a new daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason intensifies.

After his team thumped the Toronto Blue Jays in the first two games of this series, Orioles manager Buck Showalter worried about facing a "beehive" in Wednesday's finale at Rogers Centre.

Take nothing away from the terrific performance by Joe Saunders that on Monday afternoon at Rogers Centre that pulled the O¿s to within a game of first place in the American League East, but it was obvious that the Blue Jays are vulnerable and the O¿s need to take full advantage of them in the final two games of the series.

The Orioles are coming off a big series win over the Yankees in the Bronx and hope they can continue that here at the Rogers Center, where they are 7-33 in their last 40 games.

¿They¿re a very potent offense and if you don¿t make your pitches down they¿re going to get them out,¿ Jason Hammel said. ¿They were taking some pretty big hacks on my breaking stuff too, which leads me to believe it was something else. It is what it is. I need to keep the ball down.¿

The Orioles couldn't get out of Canada any faster Wednesday night. The first leg of their three-city, nine-game road trip couldn't have gone any worse.

X-rays taken of Markakis' wrist were negative and Markakis is scheduled to see a hand specialist in Florida on Thursday's off day after the team arrives in Tampa Bay for a three-game weekend series with the Rays, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said Wednesday afternoon.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters expressed his displeasure with the way Eddings was called balls and strikes Tuesday, and he was ejected for the first time in his career.

As if Orioles manager Buck Showalter needed any more injury issues on his roster, now one of his most durable players could be the latest in trouble. Orioles rightfielder Nick Markakis tweaked his right wrist making a swing during his final at bat in the Orioles' 8-6 loss to the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

Jake Arrieta is now 0-4 with a 8.00 ERA since throwing a gem against the Yankees, and his Orioles are reeling.

Their starting pitching sputtering, their offense anemic, the Orioles lost their sixth game in their past eight, an uninspiring 6-2 loss to a Blue Jays team that had lost five straight, in front of an announced crowd of 16,575.

The news on right-handed reliever Stu Pomeranz isn¿t as optimistic. Pomeranz, who has provided the Orioles with a stabilizing long-relief option in the bullpen, had an MRI taken earlier Monday that Showalter said revealed a tear.