Blue Jays update

The Blue Jays have fallen out of contention for a playoff spot, and must fend off the Orioles to avoid a fourth-place collision. They were 11-16 last month and fell a season-worst 10 games below .500 July 30. They hadn't been that far under since Sept. 28, 1997. The Blue Jays are 14-28 in their past 42 home games. The Orioles are 5-2 against Toronto this season, winning three of four at SkyDome in late June. Jay Gibbons, left exposed by the Jays in December's Rule 5 draft, has five homers against them. Tony Batista returns to the team that released him. He homered off Loaiza in a June 27 victory. Ponson tossed a two-hit shutout in his last visit to SkyDome. He held the Blue Jays to two runs over seven innings in a 3-2 win at Camden Yards on June 18. The next night, Towers limited them to one run over seven innings. Hamilton has allowed 11 runs in two starts vs. the Orioles.