masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAs they look for a three-game sweep this afternoon, the Orioles began today among the American League leaders in several team categories:

* Team ERA: second at 2.84
* Opponent batting average: fourth at .236
* Saves: Tied for first with four
* Batting average: fifth at .261
* Runs: Tied for fifth with 38
* Home runs: Tied for first with Texas at 13
* Slugging: First at .464
* On-base percentage: Tied for fourth at .325

Brian Matusz entered this game with a 0-2 record and career ERA of 18.56…As they look for a three-game sweep this afternoon, the Orioles began today among the American League leaders in several team categories:

* Team ERA: second at 2.84
* Opponent batting average: fourth at .236
* Saves: Tied for first with four
* Batting average: fifth at .261
* Runs: Tied for fifth with 38
* Home runs: Tied for first with Texas at 13
* Slugging: First at .464
* On-base percentage: Tied for fourth at .325

Brian Matusz entered this game with a 0-2 record and career ERA of 18.56 against Toronto over three starts. In those games, Toronto had 14 hits in 27 at-bats against him for an amazing .519 batting average.

Through the fourth inning today though, they are 4-for-15 against him. The game is tied 1-1 after a Brett Lawrie solo shot tied it in the fourth. Matusz has looked better than that first start against the Yankees when he needed 96 pitches to get through four frames. He has thrown some nice secondary pitches at times today.

Matt Wieters is being rested today. He went 7-for-13 in the Yankees series but is just 1-for-15 in all the other games so far.

The Orioles began today with a record of 7-29 at Rogers Centre since June 8, 2008 but they are 5-4 in their last nine games there.

Updated: Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer to left center in the sixth today to give Toronto a 3-2 lead. It was off an 83 mph curveball that was on the outside corner but was up in the zone and the strong Encarnacion hit it out of the park.