Orioles make Nolin's debut a nightmare
TORONTO -- After losing the first game of a four-game series to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, the Baltimore Orioles wanted to get off to a fast start on Friday.
They accomplished that goal, scoring six runs on seven hits against left-hander Sean Nolin, who lasted only 1 1/3 innings in his major-league debut and was returned to Class AA New Hampshire after the game.
The Orioles carried that early lead to a 10-6 victory over the Blue Jays.
"It was huge with the loss yesterday to come back and start off pretty hot," said third baseman Manny Machado, who was one of three Orioles to have three hits in the game, along with Chris Davis and Nick Markakis.
The Blue Jays outhit the Orioles 17-16, with 10 of Toronto's hits coming against right-hander Chris Tillman (4-1), who nonetheless held the Blue Jays to three runs in five innings while striking out a season-best seven.
Markakis and J.J. Hardy each drove in three runs for the Orioles (16-22), who hit four home runs. Nolin gave up Hardy's three-run blast in the first. Ramon Ortiz allowed a solo shot by Chris Davis and a two-run drive by Danny Valencia in the third, and Brad Lincoln gave up a solo shot by Adam Jones in the sixth.
Tillman gave up home runs by Melky Cabrera and Brett Lawrie before a crowd of 25,104 at Rogers Centre.
Adam Lind also homered for the Blue Jays against Tommy Hunter in the seventh.
Jose Bautista and Lind each had three hits for the Blue Jays.
"When we got a ball over the plate it seemed like we didn't miss it," Markakis said. "That's the main objective of hitting: when you get your pitch don't miss it, especially at this level. There are a lot of guys on both teams who are capable of hitting the ball out of the ballpark."
It led to a difficult night for Nolin.
"It was a tough go for him, no question," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Nolin. "(Catcher) J.P. Arencibia told me everything was kind of flat, flat in the zone. And they didn't miss anything. It was pinball out there tonight."
"Definitely not the way I envisioned it," Nolin said. "I think I just had too much energy going. I kind of felt like I already threw a few innings, kind of wasted some gas without doing anything. I felt all right in the bullpen, but definitely once I got out there it wasn't my best. I didn't have too much life. I had chills going through the body. Something I've always wanted to do. It was exciting to be out there, that's for sure."
It was the fifth road game in a row in which Machado had at least three hits. He is the first player under 21 to do that since Ty Cobb, Sept. 30-Oct 3, 1907.
"It's Ty Cobb, what can you say," Machado said. "To be mentioned with Ty Cobb it's an honor."
Machado also played superb defense, especially on a double play in the fifth inning when he got the force at third himself before throwing to first.
"I thought defensively Manny probably saved us some runs, he got a big double play," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's settled in there really nice, he' a difference maker for us. He makes a lot of plays that a lot of third baseman don't sniff."
Left-hander Brian Matusz took over in the sixth for the Orioles and gave up a two-out walk to Emilio Bonifacio, an RBI double to Munenori Kawasaki and an RBI single to Cabrera as Toronto cut the lead to 10-5.
Lind led off the seventh with his fourth homer of the season to reduce Baltimore's lead to four runs.
But the Blue Jays could not overcome the early deficit.
Nolin was welcomed to the majors by three straight hits -- singles by Markakis and Machado and Hardy's ninth homer of the season.
The Blue Jays trimmed the lead to 3-1 in their half of the first when Cabrera hit his second homer of the season and the first of his career leading off a game.
Nolin did not survive the second as Markakis hit a three-run double to give the Orioles a 6-1 lead. Nolin was replaced by Ortiz, who turned 40 on Thursday.
The Blue Jays answered with two runs in their half of the second. Lawrie led off with his fifth homer of the season. Colby Rasmus doubled and scored on a single by Emilio Bonifacio.
Davis led off the third with his American League-leading 16th homer of the season. And after Matt Wieters walked, Valencia hit his first homer of the season and the Orioles led 9-3.
Lawrie and Gibbons were ejected at the end of the third. Lawrie threw his helmet to the ground and tossed a batting glove after a called third strike. Gibbons argued with plate umpire Dan Bellino and received his third ejection of the season. Mark DeRosa took over at third.
NOTES: The Blue Jays put LHP Darren Oliver (left shoulder strain) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 19, which opened a spot on the 25-man roster for Nolin. ... LHP J.A. Happ (skull fracture, sprained right knee) was moved to the 60-day DL to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Nolin. ... Jones (groin), who was used as a DH for three games, was back in the field for the Orioles. Since the start of the 2012 season, Jones has hit seven homers at Rogers Centre, the most of any visiting player in that span. ... Blue Jays RHP R.A. Dickey (4-5, 4.50 ERA) starts against Orioles RHP Freddy Garcia (0-2, 4.84 ERA) on Saturday.
