TORONTO (AP) — Javy Lopez homered to spark a six-run second inning, and Matt Riley pitched one-hit ball for seven dominant innings as the Baltimore Orioles routed the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2 last night.
The Blue Jays managed just two hits, and Miguel Batista (0-2) had poor command throughout his four-plus innings.
The Orioles, boosted by the offseason signings of Lopez, Miguel Tejada and Rafael Palmeiro, took full advantage, jumping out to a big lead en route to their second straight win.
Palmeiro also homered off Batista, who gave up seven runs, seven hits and three walks. Jay Gibbons added a three-run shot in the eighth off Aquilino Lopez.
Riley (1-0) kept the Blue Jays’ offense down, allowing only Josh Phelps’ homer in the second and three walks. He struck out a career-high seven.
Rick Bauer pitched a hitless eighth before John Parrish gave up a double to Vernon Wells and Chris Gomez’s run-scoring groundout in the ninth.
Most of Riley’s run support came in the second. After Lopez opened the scoring by driving a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right-center, Batista walked Gibbons, and David Segui singled.
Luis Matos’ single drove in Baltimore’s second run. After Larry Bigbie walked to load the bases, Brian Roberts brought home two more with a double to right. Melvin Mora made it 5-0 with a run-scoring single, and Palmeiro capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.
Phelps homered in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-1, but Riley made sure there would be no rally on this night.
Batista bounced back with a couple of quick innings, but Palmeiro led off the fifth by turning a 3-1 pitch into his first homer of the year.
That ended Batista’s night after 90 pitches, just 45 for strikes.
Jason Frasor made his major league debut in relief of Batista. Frasor went 1⅔ innings, giving up two hits and a walk before he was replaced by Valerio De Los Santos in the sixth.
Segui added an RBI double in the seventh off De Los Santos to make it 8-1.
Riley had four perfect innings.
Notes — The Orioles have struggled against Toronto since 2001, going 1-13-2 in the past 16 series and getting swept six times. … Baltimore outfielder Jack Cust, designated for assignment Wednesday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Ottawa. … Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca tinkered with his starting rotation, slipping lefty Ted Lilly between Roy Halladay and Batista. The move means Lilly will start Wednesday against Boston at SkyDome. … No. 5 starter Josh Towers makes his season debut today against Baltimore. He has yet to pitch this season, and the Blue Jays hope he’s good for 50-60 pitches. “I’m going to be pretty amped up,” Towers said.
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