O's fall just shy of three straight wins

The Orioles blew a big lead and eventually lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 at Rogers Centre.

The Birds were up 6-0 in the fifth inning before Brian Bass and the bullpen let the Jays right back into the game. The O's scored five runs in the top of the inning to take a commanding lead, but the Jays answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a one-run game. The bullpen allowed solo runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and Toronto escaped with the win.

Offensively, the O's were hot. The team combined for 14 hits, and every starter but one (Luis Montanez) had at least one hit in the game. Aubrey Huff connected for his 32nd homer of the season, and Melvin Mora topped the century mark with a two-run single (he now has 101 RBIs). Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis both doubled for the second straight game, and now the Roberts (49), Markakis (47), Huff (48) trio look to become the first three teammates in the history of baseball to hit 50 doubles a piece in a single season...10 games left!

In other news, Daniel Cabrera and Dennis Sarfate have been shut down, though Jeremy Guthrie may make one final start this season. The O's 2009 schedule came out earlier today...Go O's!