Jun 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Mike Wright (59) reacts to Houston Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena (18) home run in the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles are facing frustration at every turn, losing to the Astros on Tuesday night by a score of 6-4, while blowing a 4-0 early lead. They drop to 23-28 on the season.
The O’s finally put together some good at-bats and hit around in the second inning, scoring four runs. But they would only put two more men on base for the entire seven innings that followed.
Meanwhile, Houston had their own big inning with five runs in the third frame, while adding an insurance run in the eighth.
There is plenty of frustration on the field. It looked like maybe the Orioles’ luck was changing asJimmy Paredesgot a cheap base hit off the end of the bat to get it going in the four-run second inning. Much of the year it has seemed like the O’s hit balls hard at people, while the opposition gets “seeing-eye” grounders through the middle and Texas League pops that fall in.
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But there would be no turn in the luck, as a bad-hop RBI single byPreston Tuckerin the third inning thwarted a possible double play… the ball nearly decapitatingSteve Pearce.Evan Gattishit a crippling three-run shot to tie, followed byLuis Valbuenawith a solo shot to give the Astros the 5-4 lead. For each, it was the 12th homer of the season.
Off the field, the frustration continues with injuries and a non-flexible roster.Jonathan Schoopsounds to be gone for a long time, whileJ.J. Hardyis awaiting word on an MRI related to a possible oblique issue.
If Hardy goes down and out for a time, it would appear thatPaul Janishwill need to be called up. He is a plus defender, but not much of a hitter … though neither has Hardy been this year.
Several of the Norfolk Tides hitters are performing well at this point, particularlyNolan Reimold. But the issue is how to bring him or any of the others up without losing a player likeDavid Lough. If only they could interchange some parts.
Also hitting well right now isHenry Urrutia, surprisingly doing so from the leadoff spot.Chris Parmeleehas been solid all year. And since there was great interest in the offseason aboutDariel Alvarez, I will include his numbers in the following chart that looks at five different players’ seasonal average and last 10 games…
| Name | Season Average | Last 10 Games |
| Chris Parmelee | 58-for-184 = .315 | 8-for-36 = .222 |
| Nolan Reimold | 47-for-161 = .292 | 16-for-31 = .516 |
| Henry Urrutia | 45-for-166 = .271 | 12-for-38 = .316 |
| Dariel Alvarez | 47-for-197 = .239 | 11-for-35 = .314 |
| Paul Janish | 32-for-137 = .234 | 7-for-27 = .259 |
It is all a problem – call it a frustrating one. I don’t know the answer. But somehow the Orioles have got to be able to get some better offense.
Next: Searching for some Orioles optimism
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