Jays-Orioles: Rios, Wells, Lead Jays To Sweep Over Baltimore

Am I dreaming? I never thought I would be able to start a game recap with that headline.

Yet, it is appropriate, as Vernon Wells and Alex Rios hit their fourth and second home runs respectively to lead the Jays to a 4-3 win and a series sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.

Wells started it off for the Jays, hitting a two-run shot after Rios' double put him in scoring position.

Unfortunately, the lead did not last long, as Luke Scott creamed a pitch over the wall for his fourth of the year, tying it up 2-2.

It was not without controversy though, as Melvin Mora was on base after what should have been a double play was nullified when the first base umpire called him safe.

However, the Jays would overcome this obstacle when Rod Barajas hit a double to score Lyle Overbay and regain the lead, setting the stage for Alex Rios' game winning home run in the fifth.

Rios capitalized on a mistake pitch thrown by Orioles ace Jeremy Guthrie, sending the ball over the wall in left field and into the second deck. It was Rios' second hit of the day.

Richmond would give up an unearned run in the bottom half of the fifth inning, but that was all she wrote for the lowly Baltimore Orioles.

Perhaps the best story this season is the pitching of Scott Richmond. After giving up two runs in seven innings today, Richmond is now 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA, thirty-and-one-third innings pitched and 26 pitches.

The 29-year old Canadian rookie's pitching is a huge reason why the Jays are now 18-9 on the season and hold a strangle-hold on first place in the AL East.

Scott Downs picked up his third save of the season while pitching for the third straight day. It's nice to have a reliable closer these days.

Some say it's too early to get excited about the Jays hot start, but we are already one month into the season, and while the Jays have had a relatively easy schedule, beating the bad teams was almost always the problem for the Jays teams of the past.

Up Next: Brian Tallet (1-1) starts off a series with Fausto Carmona (1-3) and his Cleveland Indians.