Boomer Strikes Out Baltimore
It took a perfect game and a superb season in 1998 for David Wells to prove he was one of the best left-handers in baseball.
It took him only one pitch Saturday to earn the respect of his new Toronto teammates.
Wells won his third straight start, and the Blue Jays extended their winning streak to four with a 7-4 victory over the slumping Baltimore Orioles.
Wells (3-0) gave up two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out six and walked three, and also hit Albert Belle with a pitch in apparent retaliation for an earlier brushback.
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After Doug Linton (0-1) threw a pitch behind Carlos Delgado following Shawn Green's home run in the third inning, Wells wasted no time in getting even: He hit Belle in the leg to start the fourth.
"I have a lot of respect for Albert," Wells said. "But Carlos is our big RBI man. I had to protect him."
Delgado appreciated Wells' action.
"I'm kind of glad he did it," Delgado said. "He was saying, `If you want to play hardball, we can play hardball, too."'
Wells has a 3.55 ERA, along with 21 strikeouts and only four walks this season. The 35-year-old lefty, acquired in February from the New York Yankees in the trade for Roger Clemens, slowed an Orioles lineup that had been averaging 10 hits and more than five runs per game.
Wells' next start, by the way, is scheduled for Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Last year, he was 18-4 for New York in the regular season, and won three more times in the postseason for the World Series champions.
Despite a $78 million payroll, the second-highest in the major leagues, the Orioles are 3-8 and off to their worst start since 1988, when they lost a major league-record 21 games to start the season.
"I hope the light at the end of the tunnel shows up pretty quick," Orioles designated hitter Will Clark said.
Graeme Lloy relieved with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. He gave up a two-run single to B.J. Surhoff before getting Cal Ripken on a popup for his first save.
Ripken went 1-for-5 with an RBI single after sitting out Friday's game.
Shawn Green gave Toronto a 3-0 lead in the third with a solo home run. Linton threw his next pitch close to Delgado, who leaned in to avoid it the ball, however, struck umpire Chuck Meriwether in the kneecap.
As Meriwether composed himself, Delgado glared toward the mound.
Wells hit Belle in the leg leading off the fourth. Belle, who walked to first without incident, stole second and third, but was stranded when Wells struck out Surhoff and Ripken.
Belle stole a career-high three bases after stealing six last season for the White Sox. He went 0-for-1 with three walks.
The Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead in the first on Dave Hollins' RBI single and Alex Gonzalez's RBI double.
The Orioles got to Wells in the sixth on RBI singles by Ripken and Lenny Webster.
After Green doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, Willie Greene gave Toronto a 4-2 lead with an RBI single.
Shannon Stewart's RBI single in the seventh made it 5-2. Darrin Fletcher had a two-run single in the eighth. Notes: The only games the Orioles have won this season are those started by staff ace Mike Mussina. ... Hollins injured his left wrist while striking out in the fourth. He left the game and went to a hospital for X-rays. ... Clark saw his 10-game hit streak snapped.
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