Jays lose 9th straight thanks to shaky bullpen

The Toronto Blue Jays blew a five-run lead before the ninth inning and then a two-run lead in extra innings to fall 12-10 to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, extending their losing streak to nine.

Nolan Reimold was the hero for the Orioles (21-26), as he hit a shot over the wall in left field for a three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th to win the ballgame.

Brian Wolfe (1-2) took the loss for Toronto (27-23) in what could be the Blue Jays' worst bullpen performance of the season.

"Been a long time since we had a lot of fun like that," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said.

Toronto ace Roy Halladay left the game in the seventh inning, while the Jays were cruising along with an 8-3 lead, but the relievers gave up five runs in the eighth and couldn't hold a 10-8 lead in the 11th.

"This is one we had a chance to win. We were leading. So this is about the worst lost we had on this trip," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "We're leading, we have Doc on the mound and we had a five-run lead. You're supposed to win those kind of games."

Aaron Hill looked poised to be the hero for the Blue Jays, as he hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to break an 8-8 deadlock.

But the combination of B.J. Ryan and Wolfe couldn't hold the Toronto lead. Ryan gave up a hit and retired one before Wolfe came in, and then the wheels really fell off as he gave up two singles before Reimold's home run.

"We know Doc goes out there every fifth day and does his thing on the mound. We just try to pick up what's left, and usually, it's not a lot," Wolfe said. "Today, we needed to pick up two innings and we couldn't get out of it."

In all, the Blue Jays bullpen gave up nine runs over four innings of work.

The lacklustre relief effort wasted a solid outing from Halladay, who gave up three runs on eight hits through seven.

It also wasted a solid performance from the maligned Blue Jays offence. Toronto had its best run output in weeks, but still saw the game disappear. The Jays have had trouble with runners in scoring position on this nine-game road trip, but were a solid 5-for-10 Wednesday.

"I think the hitters did everything they could do today," Gaston said. "At least you guys have a different story to write."

Orioles starter crashes

Baltimore starter Rich Hill (1-0) only lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits. Danys Baez (4-1) picked up the win in relief.

Orioles shortstop Robert Andino was the star at the plate in the contest, going 4-for-5.

And it all started so well for Toronto.

The Jays took the lead early, with Scott Rolen driving in Aaron Hill on a single to make it 1-0 for Toronto in the top half of the first. Alex Rios tried to make it two, as he also headed for home on Rolen's single, but was thrown out at the plate.

After Baltimore responded in the bottom of the second with two runs, Toronto scored six in the fourth in what looked like a game-breaking inning.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, first-baseman Kevin Millar drove in Vernon Wells and Adam Lind to make it 3-2 Blue Jays.

Jose Bautista hit a double to deep right field to score Scott Rolen. Another double, this time by Marco Scutaro, sent Millar and Bautista home.

Scutaro came around when Alex Rios singled, making it 7-2 for the Jays after their turn at-bat was finished.

The teams traded runs in the fifth and sixth innings, as the Orioles scored in the bottom of the fifth and the Jays responded with a run of their own in the top of the sixth.

Baltimore loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the seventh, but Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis flew out deep to right field to end the inning.

Toronto wouldn't be so lucky in the eighth.

Blue Jays reliever Jesse Carlson replaced Halladay on the mound, and promptly loaded the bases without recording an out.

Carlson struck out Nolan Reimold to put one away, but hit Chad Moeller with a pitch, allowing Aubrey Huff to score. Then Carlson gave up a hit to Andino that saw Melvin Mora head home.

Scott Downs came in for Carlson with the bases still loaded and one away. He fared no better, as Brian Roberts hit a sacrifice fly and Adam Jones singled to make it 8-7.

Markakis was the next batter up, and he hit a hard double to right field, scoring Andino to tie the game. Huff rounded third and tried to give the Orioles the lead, but Toronto's Rios threw him out to end the inning and keep the score tied.

Carlson was saddled with all five runs, as he allowed the scoring runners to get on base before Downs came into the game.

It doesn't get any easier for Toronto, as the team now heads home to face Boston while saddled with its worst losing streak in two years and worst road losing streak since 1994.