Blue Jays-Orioles Preview

With the conclusion of their 12th straight losing season a few days away, the Baltimore Orioles still have something to play for in their final series.

After snapping the longest losing streak in the majors, the Orioles try to finish on a positive note when they host the surging Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora each drove in a run and Chris Waters threw five strong innings as Baltimore (61-98) halted a 13-game losing streak with a 3-2 win at Tampa Bay on Thursday.

The skid was the third-worst in club history behind a 14-game losing streak in 1954 and a 21-game slide to open the 1988 season.

"You'll remember this one more so than the other ones," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "It's been an experience I'd rather not have to duplicate again."

Markakis is batting .138 in his last 18 games, but.302 in his last 10 against Toronto.

With the slide over, the Orioles can focus on trying to avoid losing 100 games for the first time since going 54-107 in 1988.

That could be a challenge against the Blue Jays (75-84), who are 9-6 against the Orioles this season and will try for a sixth consecutive win over Baltimore. The Orioles, though, are 5-1 against Toronto at Camden Yards.

Toronto has won a season-high six straight and nine of 10 in a stretch that started with a three-game sweep over Baltimore from Sept. 21-23.

Randy Ruiz hit two of the Blue Jays' four home runs in Wednesday's 12-0 rout to conclude a three-game sweep of wild-card champion Boston. Toronto has hit 13 homers in its last three games and 46 in September -- two shy of the team record for any month set in June 2000.

"The guys are swinging the bats like we started the season off," said manager Cito Gaston, whose team is batting .321 and averaging 7.6 runs during their winning streak. "I hope we go out with something positive to take home and bring back next year."

Ruiz could be a part of the 2010 plans. The designated hitter is batting .298 with nine homers and 16 RBIs in 30 games since being recalled from the minors.

Aaron Hill had three hits Wednesday for the Blue Jays and has five in his last two contests. The All-Star second baseman, however, is 1 for 9 against Orioles' scheduled starter Jason Berken.

Berken (5-12, 6.51 ERA) allowed four runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings, but didn't receive a decision in a 9-8 loss at Cleveland on Saturday. Though the rookie right-hander is 3-1 with a 6.03 ERA in his last seven starts, he's given up 19 runs over 18 1/3 innings over his last four.

Berken is 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA against the Blue Jays.

Toronto counters with David Purcey (1-2, 5.28), who looks for another strong outing to close out the season.

The left-hander allowed three runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-4, 10-inning win over Seattle on Saturday. Purcey is 1-0 with a 2.89 in three starts after his callup from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sept. 8.

Purcey is 1-0 with a 4.97 ERA in two starts against the Orioles. He allowed one run and four hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 9-2 win over Baltimore on Sept. 21.