IAN HARRISON
Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) — Baltimore manager Buck Showalter isn’t the least bit bothered that the Orioles won’t finish with the best record in the American League.
Rookie Dalton Pompey had three extra-base hits, Drew Hutchison won for the first time in three starts and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Baltimore 4-2 Friday night.
“We’re where we need to be,” Showalter said.
The Orioles came in three games behind the Los Angeles Angels, who will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“It’s something we were trying to attain,” Showalter said of finishing as the AL’s top team. “In order to do it, you have to have cooperation from (Los Angeles) and the team they’re playing.”
Baltimore right-hander Chris Tillman lost for the first time in 16 road starts, preventing him from becoming the first pitcher since Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2008 to complete a season without losing away from home.
Tillman (13-6) came in 8-0 with a 4.19 ERA in his 15 previous road starts.
Tillman, who’s expected to start Baltimore’s division series opener next Thursday, allowed four runs and a career-high 11 hits, walked none and struck out five. The outing snapped a 20-start streak in which he had allowed three runs or fewer.
“I’m happy with how I felt,” Tillman said. “My delivery was pretty good, my fastball command was probably the best it’s been all year.”
Pompey tripled and scored in the second, doubled home a run in the third and hit an RBI triple in the fifth. He also ended the second inning with a spectacular diving catch in foul territory along the left field line to retire Alejandro De Aza.
“It’s exciting talking about him, the plays he’s made and the way he’s swung the bat,” Hutchison said.
Born and raised in suburban Toronto, Pompey started the season at Class A and rose through the minor leagues before being called up in September.
“It’s been a dream come true for me,” he said.
Hutchison (11-13) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, walked one and struck out eight. He’s 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA in eight career starts against Baltimore.
The right-hander, who won just one of his first six home starts this season, finished the year by going 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA in his final five home outings.
Delmon Young hit an RBI single off Hutchison in the first, but Pompey’s first hit tied the score, and his second gave Toronto the lead. Pompey made it 3-1 by scoring from second on Munenori Kawasaki’s infield single, sliding home safely on a high throw from first baseman Steve Clevenger.
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman, who was suspended for five games after throwing at Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph during a game in Baltimore last week, relieved Hutchison and pitched the final four innings without incident to earn his first career save.
SCOUTING MISSION
Injured Orioles C Matt Wieters is headed to Detroit this weekend to help scout the Tigers, who are likely to be Baltimore’s opponent in the ALDS. “He seems real enthused about it,” Showalter said.
HAVING A BALL
Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph said he surrendered the ball from Derek Jeter’s walkoff hit in Thursday’s game at New York to a bat boy, who told Joseph that Jeter had requested the memento. Joseph sounded slightly regretful about surrendering the ball so easily. “Rookie mistake,” he said.
DAVIS IN ACTION
Suspended Orioles slugger Chris Davis played his first game for Baltimore’s Instructional League team Friday, starting at third base and going 1 for 2 with a walk in three plate appearances. Davis is serving a 25-game suspension following a second positive test for an amphetamine. He’d be eligible to return for Baltimore’s ninth playoff game, should the Orioles advance that far.
GONZO FINALE
Baltimore RHP Miguel Gonzalez will start Sunday’s season finale, Showalter said, with several relievers expected to follow him as the Orioles try to keep their pitchers fresh before the playoffs begin.
UP NEXT
Orioles LHP Wei-Yin Chen (16-5) faces Blue Jays LHP J.A. Happ (10-11) on Saturday. Chen is 8-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 16 road starts, but 1-2 with a 6.32 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.
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