Toronto Blue Jays 9 Baltimore Orioles (SS) 5

DUNEDIN, Fl. (RSEN)–In a match up of opening day starters neither looked up to the task as the Toronto Blue Jays beat a split-squad of Baltimore Orioles 9-5.

  O’s opening day starter Jeremy Guthrie needed 25 of his 96-pitches just to get out of the first inning.

     Guthrie did go five complete allowing four runs on 12-hits while walking one and striking out three.

     On the home team side Jays opening day starter Ricky Romero cruised threw the first five innings allowing just a single tally on four hits but the sixth inning was just three outs away.

     In the sixth, Romero lasted just a third of it getting tagged for four runs on four hits with the big blow being Nick Green’s two run homer.

     Shawn Camp came in and struck out the next two hitters to end the O’s scoring for the game.

     Romero’s final line was 5 1/3 innings allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out five on 88-pitches, 62-strikes.

     Sunday was the Jays biggest offensive outing of the spring hit wise as they had one every inning.

     Perfect at the plate was center fielder Rajai Davis who went 5-5 missing the cycle by a homer and scored three runs.

     Jays SS Yunel Escobar went 2-4 with a two run homer but also added an RBI with a groundout and two more on a double.

     Marc Rzepczynski got the win for a shutout inning of work while Pat Egan took the loss for the O’s allowing three runs on four hits over one-plus inning on the hill.

     Monday the Jays host the Red Sox in their final home game of the spring with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM