The rain was coming down hard enough that Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie lost the ability to feel the baseball at a time when he most needed his best stuff. A one-run seventh-inning lead, which Guthrie had already worked so hard to protect, was in danger with two Toronto Blue Jays on base and the hot-hitting Aaron Hill striding up to bat.
"He was the last guy I wanted to see come to the plate in that situation," Orioles catcher Gregg Zaun said.
Guthrie got Hill to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning and complete a strong outing that helped the Orioles beat Toronto, 4-1, in front of an announced Memorial Day crowd of 24,904 at Camden Yards. The Orioles (19-26) started a seven-game homestand by handing the Blue Jays their seventh straight loss, a span in which they've scored only 11 runs.
"I don't know how he did it," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said of Guthrie's seventh-inning escape, during which the right-hander allowed a leadoff single to Lyle Overbay and a walk to Jose Bautista before fanning Marco Scutaro and retiring Hill. "I don't know how he could feel the ball. He sure came up with some big pitches."
When shortstop Cesar Izturis flipped to Brian Roberts at second base to get the seventh inning-ending forceout, Guthrie pumped his fist and then smacked Zaun's outstretched glove. After Danys Baez pitched a scoreless eighth and George Sherrill did the same in the ninth for his 10th save, Guthrie (4-4) was able to celebrate his second victory over his past eight outings.
The right-hander held the Blue Jays to one first-inning run and seven hits over seven innings, out-dueling Toronto starter Brian Tallet. Zaun, Roberts and Aubrey Huff had RBIs for the Orioles, who broke a one-run game open with two runs in the seventh off former closer B.J. Ryan.
"We got pitching, defense and timely hitting," Trembley said. "You get all three, you're going to have a very good game. Boy, it's real good for our club, especially coming off a long road trip. The guys really pulled together. Guthrie pitched a wonderful game. He had very good stuff today and mixed up his pitches."
Guthrie is essentially the last man standing from the Orioles' Opening Day rotation. Adam Eaton was released Friday, and Mark Hendrickson has been jettisoned to the bullpen. Alfredo Simon is out for the season after having elbow surgery, and it's still uncertain how much - if any - time Koji Uehara will miss with a sore left hamstring.
