Blue Jays-Orioles Preview

A late rally helped the last-place Baltimore Orioles close out a seven-game road trip in strong fashion. They'll now attempt to carry that momentum back to Camden Yards before heading into the All-Star break as they open a three-game series against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Baltimore (38-47) scored all of its runs in the ninth inning Wednesday, rallying for a 5-3 win at Seattle to close out its 3-4 trip. The victory came a day after the Orioles plated six runs in the seventh en route to a 12-4 win that ended a three-game slide.

"This was probably one of our better team wins we've had all season, playing all 27 outs," manager Dave Trembley said Wednesday. "Guys were really calm in their approach after the seventh. It would have been easy to let the air out but they wouldn't let it happen. They kept attacking."

The Orioles will try to build on that success at home, where they've lost three of their last four. They swept the Blue Jays (43-44) in a three-game set there from May 25-27, outscoring their AL East rivals 23-13 after losing all three games at Toronto from May 1-3.

Center fielder Adam Jones was key in the last three matchups with the Blue Jays, collecting five hits -- one homer -- and four RBIs.

Jones, hitting .308 with a career-high 12 homers and 47 RBIs, is 10 for 25 (.400) while driving in three runs over the last six games.

The Orioles will turn to rookie Jason Berken (1-5, 6.25 ERA), who is looking to halt a personal five-game losing streak with another victory over Toronto.

The right-hander beat the Blue Jays 7-2 in his major league debut May 26, allowing two runs and seven hits in five innings. However, he hasn't won since, going 0-5 with a 6.62 ERA in his last seven trips to the mound with only one of those outings resulting in a win for Baltimore.

Berken lasted four innings Saturday, giving up three runs and seven hits while not getting a decision in an 11-4 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

"My goal is obviously to try to pitch deep into the game and give us a chance to win. (Saturday) it just didn't happen," Berken said.

Toronto has lost 10 of its last 12 after falling 3-2 at Tampa on Thursday, getting swept in the three-game set.

The Blue Jays will likely have third baseman Scott Rolen, the team leader with a .330 average, back in the lineup after he was rested Thursday.

Rolen is on a career-high 25-game hitting streak during which he has a .390 average (41 for 105) with three homers and 16 RBIs. A hit on Friday would tie him with John Olerud and Shannon Stewart for the second-longest streak in franchise history, and he trails Shawn Green's team record by three games.

Rolen is 2 for 16 in five games against Baltimore this season.

Rookie Brett Cecil (2-1, 6.23) will get his first start against the Orioles and a second turn in the rotation in place of Scott Richmond, who is on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.

Cecil was roughed up during Sunday's 10-8 loss at Yankee Stadium. The 23-year-old left-hander was tagged for seven runs and nine hits with five walks in 3 2/3 innings, but wasn't charged with the defeat.

He's 0-0 with a 9.42 ERA in his last four games -- three starts -- since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on June 20.