Thanks in part to a third inning Adam Jones home run, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 8-3. O’s starting pitcher Radhames Liz received plenty of run support. Baltimore torched Jesse Litsch for 7 hits and 6 earned runs in 4.2 innings.

“He was determined to play tonight,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said of Jones. “He’s 22 years old. I think he’s got a great mind-set. Other than his ability and his tools and everything, the guy’s got his head on right.”

After the game, Trembley attributed some of Liz’s success to the relaxed environment of Camden Yards.

“The venues that he’s pitched in have probably been some of the toughest in baseball,” Trembley said before the game. “He’s pitched in Boston, he’s pitched in Wrigley. He’s pitched in some tough places for a guy that’s on his first time around [the league]. We’re hoping tonight will be a little bit better environment for him. Not to take anything away from Toronto, but it’s not like going to Wrigley. It’s not like going to Yankee Stadium. We’re here in Camden, so perhaps he’ll be a little bit more relaxed. I think that’s got a lot to do with it as well.”

Jesse Litsch suffered his 7th loss of the season.  After the game, Toronto manager Cito Gaston spoke of Litsch’s poor outing.

“He made a couple of mistakes tonight and he paid for it. If he’d get that last out (in the third) instead of having that two-run homer hit against him, we come back into the dugout even,” Gaston said. “I know he’s trying hard. Too hard? I don’t know. He’s just got to make the pitches.”