masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles had some chances, but did not score early on today against Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

The Orioles and Blue Jays have played three scoreless innings to start the regular season finale.

Nick Markakis led off the game with a double to left field, but was left on base as Alejandro De Aza grounded out, Adam Jones flied out and Nelson Cruz flied out.

The O’s put two on with one out on a pair of walks in the top of the second, but Nick Hundley struck out and Jonathan Schoop…The Orioles had some chances, but did not score early on today against Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

The Orioles and Blue Jays have played three scoreless innings to start the regular season finale.

Nick Markakis led off the game with a double to left field, but was left on base as Alejandro De Aza grounded out, Adam Jones flied out and Nelson Cruz flied out.

The O’s put two on with one out on a pair of walks in the top of the second, but Nick Hundley struck out and Jonathan Schoop popped to short. The Orioles went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position over those first two innings and were retired 1-2-3 in the third.

Miguel Gonzalez pitched scoreless ball over his first three innings this afternoon on 39 pitches. He pitched around a Jose Reyes leadoff double in the first and a leadoff single by Dalton Pompey in the second as Toronto went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position over the first two innings. Through three, Gonzalez has allowed four hits with no walks and one strikeout.

With a win today, the Orioles would end a three-game losing streak and finish the year 30 games over .500 at 96-66.

Update: The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth on Jonathan Schoop’s first home run since Sept. 4.

Schoop got an 85 mph fastball on a 3-2 pitch from Dickey, and hit it out to left for his 16th homer.

Schoop hit three homers in three games against Cincinnati from Sept. 2-4, but had not homered since and began today in a 5-for-52 slump.

Update II: Gonzalez pitched five scoreless innings today before Ubaldo Jimenez came on in the last of the sixth. Gonzalez gave up five hits with no walks and two strikeouts, throwing 62 pitches.

Over his last six starts, Gonzalez has pitched to an ERA of 1.62. In 12 starts this year against the American League East, he has an ERA of 2.78 and his final ERA for the season will be 3.23.