Jones Returns, Orioles Lose To Blue Jays 4-3 In 10
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) -- Adam Jones singled and scored a run in his return to Baltimore's lineup, but the Orioles lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in 10 innings Sunday.
Jones, who left the team last Tuesday to fly to Baltimore to be with his wife for the birth of their first son on Wednesday, finished 1 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout. He scored on Steve Clevenger's double off Toronto starter Todd Redmond as part of a two-run fourth, which included an RBI double by Ryan Flaherty.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said it was good to have Jones back, but the three-time All-Star still has some work to do to get ready for the regular season.
"He's going to get a lot of at-bats from here on out and he'll catch up in a hurry," Showalter said. "He's a little rusty."
Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez made his longest start of the spring, allowing one run with three strikeouts and no walks in four innings.
Melky Cabrera drove in a run for the Blue Jays. Jonathan Diaz scored the game-winning run on a grounder by Josh Thole.
STARTING TIME
Orioles: Gonzalez threw 63 pitches, 42 for strikes. The right-hander said he was happy with his outing, especially with the progression of his command from the glove side.
"That was my problem the first couple of games and I worked in the bullpen trying to get better at that and it was coming out good," Gonzalez said. "Just inside to lefties, away to righties, it was pretty fun to get better at it."
Blue Jays: Redmond, a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, allowed four hits and two runs in five innings. He walked one and struck out four.
"I had one little bit of a rough inning, but I was able to get out of it with minimal damage," Redmond said. "I was able to get my pitches back down the way they needed to be."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Shortstop Alexi Casilla (hyperextended left knee) was scratched from the lineup as a precaution. Casilla, a non-roster invitee, also missed time earlier this spring with a strained hamstring. He is hitless in five at-bats. Jonathan Schoop replaced Casilla and went 1 for 4.
Blue Jays: Toronto closer Casey Janssen (sore right shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday. He is expected to throw batting practice Tuesday and begin pitching in games soon after.
Janssen had 34 saves for the Blue Jays last season. The right-hander has not pitched in a game this spring.
Left-handed starter J.A. Happ (sore back) is scheduled to throw four or five innings Friday against Philadelphia.
TRIMMING DOWN
The Blue Jays optioned RHP Kyle Drabek, RHP Chad Jenkins and LHP Sean Nolin to Triple-A Buffalo.
Drabek entered camp as one of the top candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation, but posted a 9.00 ERA with six walks in eight innings.
DARIEL GOES DEEP
Orioles outfield prospect Dariel Alvarez hit his first home run off the left field foul pole in the top of the 10th.
Showalter praised Alvarez, a non-roster invitee, and joked that he predicted the long ball as the 25-year-old walked to the plate.
"I call every guy that goes up there, then one time I'm right," Showalter said.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
