"In the first three months, we were as competitive as anybody," right fielder Nick Markakis said. "Unfortunately, we had some injuries in our pitching staff, and we had a long battle for the last three months of the season."

The Orioles finished in last place for the first time in 20 seasons. The last time the club ended a season in the basement of the American League East was the 107-loss, seventh-place 1988 club.

On the bright side, the Orioles offense was a pleasant surprise. Aubrey Huff had a career year, batting .304 with 32 home runs and a career-best 108 RBI. He and Nick Markakis nearly joined Brian Roberts in the 50-double club, each falling just two two-base hits shy of becoming the first trio to do so.

Players obtained in offseason trades also made positive impacts, led by closer George Sherrill. The Orioles' lone All-Star saved 31 games in a career-high 57 appearances. Outfielder Adam Jones, in his first full big-league season, batted .270 with nine home runs and 57 RBI.

But the pitching staff was a glaring weakness -- in particular, a thin starting rotation. The team dipped deep into its minor leagues to find second-half starters after every member of the starting rotation missed at least one start.

The team finished with a 5.13 ERA and just one complete-game shutout -- by minor league journeyman Chris Waters in the season's final two weeks.

"It's going to start with pitching, and we need to improve our one through five, our starting pitching," manager Dave Trembley said. "I think everything after that will follow suit."

BLUE JAYS 10, ORIOLES 1: Designated hitter Vernon Wells victimized Orioles pitching for two home runs and five runs batted in. Toronto starter Jesse Litsch scattered three hits and one run over seven innings for his 13th win.