The Juice: O’s stay atop AL East with win, Brandon Allen provides immediate returns for Rays

The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.

How 'Bout Dem O's?: Baltimore's Adam Jones hit a leadoff homer to key a three-run eighth inning and a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards on Thursday night. The victory sealed a three-game sweep for the Orioles (they're 5-1 against Toronto this season), ran their winning streak to four games and kept them in an improbable spot atop the AL East with a 12-7 record. It's still early, but if this isn't a time to watch Orioles Magic and grow a big old pair of Eddie Murray sideburns, I don't know what is.

Rays' Return on Investment: Meanwhile, down in Tampa, the April 19 waiver pickup of Brandon Allen paid almost immediate dividends. Added for ability to provide power off the bench, Allen smacked a two-run walk-off homer off Angels closer Jordan Walden for a 3-2 victory and a series sweep. It was Allen's first plate appearance for the Rays, who are tied with the O's for first place in the AL East.

Closer woes: Joining Walden on the day's downer list were Cincinnati's Sean Marshall and Miami's Heath Bell. Marshall by giving up a three-run homer to San Francisco's Angel Pagan in the ninth inning to hand the Giants a 6-5 victory, Bell by issuing four walks among 46 pitches in a blown save that gave the Mets a 3-2 win on Kirk Niewenhuis' walk-off RBI single.

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Quote of the Day: ''This game will humble you, man. It will make you feel good one day and make you feel real bad the next. You've got to take every game as its own game.'' — White Sox pitcher Philip Humber, who followed his perfect game by giving up a career-high nine runs in a 10-3 loss to the Red Sox.

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Photo of the Day: Yes, that's Joba Chamberlain sitting next to Carmela Soprano at the New York Rangers' Game 7 win over Ottawa. We have no idea either, but we're assuming they discussed the finer points of Madame Bovary between periods.

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