Brian Tallet allows one hit over four innings, strikes out three as Blue Jays top Orioles 4-1

Tallet shuts down Orioles in Blue Jays’ 4-1 win

SARASOTA, Fla. — Left-hander Brian Tallet allowed one hit over four innings, a leadoff single by Cesar Izturis in the first, and retired the last 12 batters he faced to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Travis Snider hit a solo home run off reliever Kam Mickolio in the fifth to help the Blue Jays win for only the second time in six games.

In Tallet’s other start this spring, he allowed four runs and four hits in two innings to leave his ERA at 18.00 He also served up two home runs and issued two walks. His last scheduled start was canceled because of rain.

“Anytime you can go out there and make your pitches the way you want to make them middle of camp, trying to get tuned up — you’re always happy,” he said.

Toronto pitchers retired 15 straight Orioles after Izturis’ single in the first. Ty Wigginton walked to open the sixth, but Baltimore didn’t manage another hit until Miguel Abreu’s bloop single with two outs in the ninth that scored Pedro Florimon.

Jason Berken, trying to win a spot at the back end of the Orioles’ rotation, made his first start on Wednesday after four relief appearances. He had totaled only 5 2-3 innings and permitted one run and three hits out of the bullpen.

The Blue Jays put three runners on against Berken in the first two innings without scoring, but they broke through with three runs in the third. Alex Gonzalez singled and scored when Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis overran the ball on Jeremy Reed’s single. Brian Dopirak lifted a sacrifice fly, and Brad Emaus added an RBI single.

Berken threw 24 of his first 29 pitches for strikes. He was charged with three runs and six hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.

“My fastball had good action to it,” he said. “My slider was better than I’ve probably ever thrown it. I only started throwing it the last couple times out. Numbers-wise it wasn’t the greatest, but stuff-wise and my location, from my standpoint it was really good.”

Berken is competing with Chris Tillman, regarded as the favorite, and David Hernandez for the fifth spot in Baltimore’s rotation. He went 6-12 with a 6.54 ERA in 24 starts as a rookie last year.

“I look at it as, regardless of what my role is or what my spot is or what I’m competing for, I have to go out there and pitch well,” he said. “Chris, Dave and I are all good friends and we’re all pulling for each other. But the biggest thing is just pitching well regardless.”