masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Making his first appearance in a major league exhibition game, right-hander Tommy Hunter allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. The Orioles and Blue Jays are tied, 2-2, going to the top of the sixth.

Hunter threw 74 pitches, 44 for strikes. His fastball was mainly 89-91 mph.

It isn’t always pretty with Hunter, but manager Buck Showalter likes how he grinds through a start and gives his team a chance to win.

The Blue Jays put at…SARASOTA, Fla. – Making his first appearance in a major league exhibition game, right-hander Tommy Hunter allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. The Orioles and Blue Jays are tied, 2-2, going to the top of the sixth.

Hunter threw 74 pitches, 44 for strikes. His fastball was mainly 89-91 mph.

It isn’t always pretty with Hunter, but manager Buck Showalter likes how he grinds through a start and gives his team a chance to win.

The Blue Jays put at least one runner on base in every inning. Travis Snider and Yan Gomes had back-to-back doubles in the second to wipe out the Orioles’ 1-0 lead. Catcher J.P. Arencibia homered with one out in the third – a long drive to left field – and Snider led off the fourth with a walk.

Luis Ayala replaced Hunter to start the sixth inning.

Also Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty replaced Wilson Betemit at first base. He’s also played second, third, shortstop, left field and right field this spring.

Endy Chavez began the day batting .462. He’s singled twice and walked. He also hustled from first to third on J.J. Hardy’s single to center field in the third inning and scored on Betemit’s sacrifice fly.

The Orioles’ other run came in the first on Chavez’s single, a one-out walk to Betemit and Adam Jones’ single. The throw arrived to Arencibia in plenty of time, but he threw to third base instead of tagging Chavez. No idea why.

Update: Adam Jones led off the bottom of the sixth inning with his second home run of the spring, giving the Orioles a 3-2 lead. Jones connected off Francisco Cordero, who considered signing with the Orioles over the winter before choosing the Blue Jays. It pretty much came down to those two teams.

Ayala retired the side in order in the top of the sixth.

Also, the Indians claimed former Orioles pitcher Rick VandenHurk off waivers from the Blue Jays.