Josh Donaldson homers but Jays lose to Orioles

Orioles 4 Blue Jays 2

A pretty good, or pretty typical, start for Mark Buehrle, depending on how you look at things. Mark went 5 innings allowed 7 hits, but no walks, 4 strikeouts and just 1 earned. That seems to be what he does, lots of hits, few walks and, hopefully, not too many runs. Use the defense.

Aaron Loup had a good clean inning, with 2 strikeouts. Brett Cecil gave up a single and a walk but got out of the inning on a nice double play. Jeff Francis had a tough inning, giving up 3 hits, 2 earned, with a strikeout. He did pick a runner off first to limit the damage, but he still got the loss. Brady Dragmire gave up a Chris Parmelee home run, to start the 9th, then got a strikeout and 2 ground outs.

On offense, we had 10 hits but only scored the 2 runs. Josh Donaldson hit his 4th home run of the spring. He's going to be fun to watch.

• Jose Reyes: 1 for 3, double. .333.
• Russell Martin was 0 for 2, with a walks. .209.
• Jose Bautista: 1 for 3, a hard single off the left field wall. .324.
• Edwin Encarnacion: 0 for 3, strikeout. .067. He needs some more at bats.
• Josh Donaldson: 1 for 3, home run, k. .318.
• Dioner Navarro: 0 for 3. .200.
• Dalton Pompey: 1 for 3. .327.
• Kevin Pillar: 1 for 4. .250
• Devon Travis: 2 for 4. .352.

The Jays play the Astros, Phillies and Red Sox, over the next three days, then an off-day before the two games in Montreal. Then the season starts Monday afternoon in New York. I don't know about you guys (as much as I'm going to enjoy a few days in Montreal) I'm ready for the season to start.