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TORONTO (AP) -- Pat Hentgen is determined to see if his arm will get stronger next year.

	Pat Hentgen Starting Pitcher Baltimore Orioles Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA 3 0 4 0 11 7.77

Esteban Loaiza pitched a five-hitter for his third complete game of the season as the Toronto Blue Jays beat Hentgen and the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 Thursday night.

Hentgen (0-4) lost his fourth consecutive start since coming off the 60-day disabled list.

''As far as my career goes, I feel that I owe it to myself to come to spring training and see if I can build up arm strength in the offseason,'' said Hentgen, who underwent ''Tommy John'' ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow in August of last season.

''All the people that have had Tommy John have told me you can pitch in 12 months, but most of the guys take 16 to 18 months.''

The Orioles have dropped nine in a row and 29 of 33.

Hentgen, facing his former team for the first time, allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings. The 33-year-old right-hander has allowed 19 runs in four starts since coming off the disabled list Sept. 8.

''I owe it to myself to play,'' said Hentgen, who can become a free agent this offseason. ''If I feel like I can keep competing I want to play. If it gets grim I'm not afraid of shutting it down either. It will come down to my results and how I perform.''

Hentgen, who won a Cy Young Award and two World Series titles with the Blue Jays, said it was strange to pitch for a different team in Toronto.

''I was a little nervous in the first inning, but then it was a normal game,'' he said. ''This was a great place to play. Everyone knows I love pitching here. I was lucky to be a part of two World Series teams.''

Loaiza (9-10) struck out three and walked one in the ninth complete game of his career. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed nine runs in his previous start.

Eligible for free agency after the season, Loaiza isn't expected back next year. He made just more than $6 million this season.

''In the category that he is in financially, the numbers are not up to a guy making that type of money,'' Toronto manager Carlos Tosca said.

Carlos Delgado homered and hit a run-scoring double for the rebuilding Blue Jays, who have won four in a row to improve to 41-32 since the All-Star break.

Baltimore has fallen apart down the stretch after being 63-63 on Aug. 23. They also have an eight-game losing streak and a 10-game skid since that date.

''We've scored two or fewer runs in 24 of the last 32 games,'' manager Mike Hargrove said. ''It's frustrating.''

Delgado was hit on the helmet by a pitch from Eric Dubose in the eighth inning, but he was OK. The game took just 1 hour, 59 minutes -- the fastest of the season for Toronto.

Hentgen walked Delgado in the second inning and allowed consecutive singles to Jose Cruz Jr. and Chris Woodward before Dewayne Wise hit a run-scoring grounder.

Dave Berg followed with a run-scoring single, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead.

Delgado hit his RBI double in the third, and his 32nd homer in the sixth.

After Cruz followed Delgado's homer with a double off the top of the right-field wall, Woodward hit a sacrifice fly for a 5-1 lead.

Larry Bigbie hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth for Baltimore.

Game notes

Hentgen made just nine starts for Baltimore last year. ... Attendance was 13,127. ... Toronto designated hitter Josh Phelps missed the game with a sore knee. ... Baltimore is 2-14 on the road since Aug. 23.