Orioles blank Blue Jays to tie up AL wild card

TORONTO - Ubaldo Jimenez is rounding into form at the right time for the Baltimore Orioles.

Jimenez and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 4-0 on Thursday night, moving into a tie with Toronto in the AL wild card race with three games remaining.

''(Jimenez) was in command pretty much all night,'' Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said. ''In a big game like that, he really kept his emotions under control like I knew he would. He threw the ball great.''

When he last started at Toronto on June 12, Jimenez allowed five runs and six hits in 1/3 of an inning, the shortest start of his career.

''Whatever happened to me in the past, I don't even think about that,'' Jimenez said. ''If you get stuck in the past, you're not going to be able to move on. Whether it's good or bad, you have to find a way to look forward.''

The right-hander made his return a triumphant one, carving up the Blue Jays for 6 2/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Ezequiel Carrera's single to begin the first. Josh Donaldson followed with a walk but Jimenez retired the next six batters in order.

''Boy, he was solid,'' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ''It was big to get a positive feeling early on. It was fun to watch him.''

The Orioles visit New York for the final weekend of the season, while the Blue Jays head to Boston to face the AL East champion Red Sox.

''This time of year, momentum is huge,'' Wieters said. ''Over 162 (games), momentum is going to come and go but once you start getting close to the playoffs, momentum is big. We're going to try and keep it going as long as we can.''