Baltimore Orioles drop their 19th straight

The Baltimore Orioles’ losing streak reached 19 straight games last night. That’s two shy of the franchise record. Spenser Watkins was beaten around early and often. Watkins’ line: 2.0 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

The Los Angeles Angels aren’t exactly a great team. Yet what they did last night was get people on base early on. And that’s what’s plagued the Birds in August; they’ve hit some home runs in games, but they’ve mainly been solo shots – including some last night. Opponents have smacked homers with people on base.

Ryan Mountcastle smacked a solo homer (true to form based on what I said above) in the first to give the Birds the lead. And that’s another thing this losing streak has seen – the O’s held leads in a lot of these games. However Los Angeles put five across in the top of the second, giving them a 5-1 lead.

And as has been the case throughout this streak, the opponents’ rally started on a fluky play – a batter reaching base on a wild pitch. The margin of error for the Orioles is so thin right now. It isn’t even funny.

LA would put up three in the third and another five in the fifth. But then suddenly, the O’s somehow snapped out of it. Anthony Santander’s RBI-double in the last of the fifth cut the Los Angeles lead to 13-3. Ramon Urias would follow later in the inning with a two-RBI single.

One inning later Mountcastle would homer again (a solo shot), and Santander would send a two-run shot into the Baltimore night. Los Angeles would tack on an additional run in the eighth, running the final to 14-8. Needless to say, in yet another loss the Birds never stopped battling.

As I said, opposing teams are putting guys on base and finding a way to get them in. Usually by way of home runs. And the O’s started doing that in the second half of the game. One has to hope that’s the beginning of a trend, and they can snap this loss streak starting tonight.

The series continues tonight at Camden Yards. The Orioles are yet to name a starter, but Los Angeles will start Shohei Ohtani. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.