Baltimore Orioles' Offense Struggles, while Pitching Improves

Jun 13, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce (28) singles during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles failed to gain any additional ground or set themselves up to move within two and one-half games of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-0 loss Friday night.

The Orioles sit at 34-32, now four-and-a-half games behind the Blue Jays who have now reached their 40^th win of the season to improve to 40-29.

Ubaldo Jimenez did not pitch very well, but he is not to blame for the shutout loss. He gained the quality start going six innings, while only allowing two runs on three hits, but also five walks.

The walks hurt Jimenez again, but he minimized the damage

The walks hurt Jimenez again, but he minimized the damage. It is not as if his poor quality start hurt the offense, but it kept the Orioles in the game.

The Blue Jays’ starter Drew Hutchinson kept the Orioles in check through the first four innings. This was despite the Orioles having at least one man on base each inning.

If it were not for the 22-minute rain delay, Hutchinson could have gone deeper into the game.

The Orioles offense is stagnant at home, which accounts for leaving nine men on base. The last three games have seen the Orioles leaving no less than eight men on base each game.

The home offense is at the bottom of the AL rankings in every category from batting average to on-base percentage.

When it comes to playing at home, the Orioles are terrible on offense. But as Jimenez’s start gives example, the pitching does quite well at home; but without the offense to support it, the Orioles lose.

The pitching staff only allowed one run during the Red Sox series, but could only take two of the three games.

The Orioles home offense, if not their entire offense, is inconsistent, and it costs them in games when the pitching does well.

Jimenez has not pitched very well for the Orioles, but the blame cannot be put completely on him. The offense does not help him at all. He has an 0-6 record at Camden Yards, which I have to believe is partially because of the offense.

Are the Orioles going to score runs in game three against the Blue Jays? The only thing we can do is try to predict, but with the Orioles, that is not going to do very much.

The Blue Jays are sending R.A. Dickey (6-4, 4.20 ERA) against the Orioles’ Bud Norris (5-5, 3.94 ERA). Dickey uses the knuckleball, which the Orioles just happen to have mixed feelings toward.

Baltimore Orioles: Inconsistencies Continue to Haunt Offense at Home

By Jeremiah D. Sater | Jun 14, 2014