The Baltimore Orioles used some earlier home runs to pave the way to a big 7-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards Saturday night.
Ubaldo Jimenez (0-1) struck out eight Jays and allowed just one hit over seven great innings. Jonathan Schoop hit a grand slam as the main highlight of the night.
Alejandro De Aza and Chris Davis homered off Aaron Sanchez (0-1) - making his first Major League career start - in the first inning to give the O’s an early lead. Baltimore rebounded after a 12-5 thumping from the Jays in their home opener the night before.
Jimenez also rebounded in impressive fashion after coming off a disappointing season which saw him going 6-9 after signing a new, big money contract.
The right-hander retired nine straight Jay batters before Jose Reyes broke the streak. Following that, Jimenez retired the next eight batters before Reyes came up to the plate again and walked.
Reliever Zach Britton came into the game in the top of the ninth to try and see out the Blue Jays for a shutout. However, following a double from Steve Tolleson, Edwin Encarnacion singled to bring the runner home to get the Jays on the board.
Sanchez went just three and one thirds innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. The two home runs he surrendered at the start of the game were twice as much as he allowed a year ago in 24 appearances as a reliever.
After the Blue Jays had a big first inning in Friday’s game where they scored four runs, it was Baltimore’s turn to take control early.
It was Davis’ first home run of the season, after hitting 53 out of the park two years ago and 26 last year. It so happened that the only home run Sanchez allowed last season was to Davis himself.
The Orioles loaded the bases in the third inning with three singles with zero outs, but scored just one after Adam Jones grounded into a double play.
Schoop put the game away in the fifth as he hit his first career grand slam off Blue Jays reliever Todd Redmond.
Both teams are back at it tomorrow afternoon for the rubber match of their three game series as Drew Hutchison (1-0) takes the mound for the Jays and Chris Tillman (1-0) for the Orioles.
