Unlikely hero

Backed by 4 HRs, struggling Jiménez returns to rotation, allows just 2 runs in 7 innings

Add the image of muchmaligned Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez walking off the mound in the seventh inning of the Orioles’ 8-5 interleague victory over the St. Louis Cardinals — wiping his brow as he let the most unlikeliest of standing ovations sink in on a sweltering Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards — to the many reasons why baseball can be so unpredictable.

Demoted to the bullpen a month ago — and inserted back into the starting rotation this weekend in a move more based in optimism than anything statistically defensible — Jiménez gave the Orioles their best start since the first days of June, holding the Cardinals to two runs over seven innings to hand his team its first back-to-back wins since June 7-8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Felt pretty good,” Jiménez said. “I mean, like I said before, it doesn’t matter how things are going for me. I just want to fight. Doesn’t matter where I am, I’m going to try to do the best I can. It felt good to be able to be there for the team Tonight, 7:05 TV: MASN Radio: 105.7 FM

KENNETH K. LAM/BALTIMORE SUN PHOTOS Ubaldo Jiménez, making his first start since losing May 22, pitched seven full innings, the first time an Oriole has gone that distance since Wade Miley on June 1. Jiménez allowed two solo home runs by the Cardinals’ Stephen Piscotty and just two other...