Blue Jays' Adam Lind, top, leaps into the arms of teammate Aaron Hill after doubling home the winning run in the 10th inning. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)An extra-inning win and a hitting slump by Adam Lind have been on the list of rarities in an up-and-down season for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The designated hitter took care of both concerns with one swing of the bat Saturday afternoon, launching a double off the wall in left-centre field in the bottom of the 10th inning to cap a 3-2 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles.
Lind, who entered the contest with a .346 batting average in his previous six games, was in a 0-for-10 funk until he took a 1-0 fastball from relief pitcher Danys Baez the other way to score Marco Scutaro from second base.
"It was kind of a rough day out there for me," said Lind, shortly after being mobbed by teammates at second base. "I got a fastball over the plate. It feels pretty cool to have everyone run out there and jump on you and hit you on the head."
Lind's 36th double of the season lifted Toronto to just its fifth win in 15 extra-inning games in 2009. The Blue Jays, who halted a three-game losing streak, also beat Baltimore 5-4 in 11 innings on May 2.
Tough day at the ballpark
The Baltimore Orioles found a way to prevent Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil from extending his hot streak.
Cecil was one of three players nicked up during Saturday afternoon's 3-2 10-inning win, forced to leave the game in the top of the fifth inning with a sore left knee.
The rookie pitcher tumbled to the Rogers Centre playing surface when his knee buckled while he tried to glove the ball to first baseman Lyle Overbay on a one-out bunt single by Robert Andino. Cecil was replaced by Brian Tallet.
Cecil allowed two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched Saturday. He entered the contest having won three of his previous four starts with a 1.67 earned-run average and 24 strikeouts over 27 innings.
Andino was called upon in the third inning to replace Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, who fouled a ball off his left shin in the first inning.
Roberts drew a walk and ran the bases, then played the field in the first and second innings, but was replaced by Robert Andino when his spot in the order came up again. Team officials said precautionary X-rays were negative.
In the sixth inning, Baltimore first baseman Aubrey Huff took a Tallet fastball in the midsection and shook off the injury behind home plate before jogging to first base.
The 26-year-old Lind has struggled against the Orioles this season, going 10-for-44 (.227) in 11 games with four runs batted in.
Average dips to .297
With Saturday's 1-for-5, two-strikeout performance, Lind saw his average drop two points to a team-leading .297. His 23 home runs and 73 runs batted in rank second on the Blue Jays behind second baseman Aaron Hill (26-77).
Saturday's outcome may have been different if Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts wasn't forced to leave the game in the third inning after fouling a pitch off his left shin (see sidebar).
Ty Wigginton, who hit for Roberts's replacement Andino in the ninth inning and remained in the game at second base, had a ball kick off the heel of his glove and another deflect off his glove in the bottom of the 10th to allow Joe Inglett and Hill to reach base.
The versatile Wigginton blamed himself for not coming up with either play.
"The first one hit off the heel of my glove," Wigginton said. "I should have made that play. The second ball got in the lights. I was actually surprised it hit my glove. It is what it is and it's unfortunate that we didn't find a way out of it."
Orioles manager Dave Trembley wasn't concerned with defence when he put Wigginton in the game.
"You're playing on the road and, late in the game on the road, you're going to do what you can offensively to try to win the game right there," Trembley said. "Wigginton just missed one. It's a moot point, obviously, if Roberts is in the game."
Tallet stellar in relief
The Orioles had a glorious chance to take a 2-0 advantage in the three-game series but failed to cash in a Nick Markakis double to lead off the 10th inning.
Brian Tallet, who relieved injured Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil in the fifth, had set down eight consecutive Orioles before Markakis's two-base hit to the gap in left centre.
He kept Toronto in the game, tossing five scoreless innings and striking out four before giving way to Jason Frasor.
Right-fielder Alex Rios gave the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead in the second inning with his second home run in as many games and 14th of the season, a two-run shot off Baltimore starter Chris Tillman.
Rios also made headlines Friday night when it was reported an unidentified team had claimed him off waivers.
Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (11-5) will take the mound in Sunday's series finale at 1:07 p.m. ET against Brian Matusz (1-0).
With files from The Associated Press
