Balk angers O's, but the walks beat them, plus other notes

In their latest loss last night, this one against Seattle, Orioles pitchers gave up just seven hits, but they walked 10 batters. That tied for the most in a game this year and it was a significant factor in a 5-3 loss to the Mariners.

The Orioles seemed to have plenty of reasons to be angry at home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater for his balk call on Darren O'Day in the ninth last night. It led to ejections for O'Day and manager Buck Showalter.

But all those walks and producing just four hits on offense while going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position were the main reasons the Orioles lost the series opener.

Right-hander Andrew Cashner gave the Orioles a quality start allowing three runs over six innings. But two walks he issued in the second set the table for Dee Gordon to drive home two with a bases loaded single.

The walks left his pitch count at 42 through two innings and perhaps kept him from getting deeper in the game.

"Even tonight, if Cashner could've maybe gotten out of that second inning tonight, who knows?" catcher Caleb Joseph said. "He had the stuff tonight to go seven, eight, maybe even a CG. He had some really nasty stuff tonight. At the end of the day, a quality start by definition gave us a chance to win. We're not winners on the scoreboard, but I like the way the starting pitchers are navigating and the way the bullpen guys are contributing."

But right-hander Miguel Castro has had better moments than he had last night. Entering in a 3-3 tie in the seventh, he allowed a walk, a bunt single, and walk to load the bases. The two winning runs would eventually score against Castro.

"His stuff was there," said Joseph. "It didn't look like he had a feel for his command. And you've got to remember, this guy's throwing a mid-90s sinker and it's a tough pitch to command sometimes, and if you lose the slot on the sinker, the breaking ball becomes a little sweepy. It got out of hand kind of quickly. For the most part, he's done a really nice job of course. He just didn't have it tonight. The thing with that sinker, you're a ground ball away from a double play and that takes the air out of the inning. We just couldn't get that ground ball tonight."

Davis talks about the potential for trades: With his mind getting a mental break and his swing some pregame work and tweaking, Chris Davis has been back in the lineup for the last four games now for the Orioles. While he drove in five runs over two games on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta, he is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts his past two games.

The veterans in the Orioles clubhouse are obviously aware that keeping this team together for one final playoff run has come up way short. And soon the look in the clubhouse may be very different with players traded away to other contending teams.

Davis was asked about that possibility. That the team could look very different in a few short weeks.

"I think we have to take it head on," said Davis before last night's game. "Obviously I had a lot of fun (returning) in Atlanta, for a number of reasons. Being back in the lineup, being back on the field with my teammates. But I feel like the talent, the winning capability and the team we put together in the spring, that we had so much confidence in, is starting to show up. And I really think you have to take the rest of the season head on and try to make the best of it. We understand guys are not going to be here for their entire careers. But you can't think about that, because it's out of your control."

Beckham's return: Davis returned to the team in Atlanta and infielder Tim Beckham returned last night. He went 0-for-4 and was robbed of a hit by a nice catch by Seattle left fielder Denard Span. Beckham was activated off the 60-day DL after undergong core muscle surgery. Beckham said it was a very necessary procedure and agreed with an assessment that the issue had lingered with him for years.

"For me it (the surgery) was the only option," said Beckham. "It was something I needed to take care of. Everyone in the front office and Buck (Showalter) saw where I was coming from and they understood it. It's a blessing to be back on the field. Everything went well with the procedure and I'm healthy and ready to go.

"We are starting to play better. It was fun to watch the series in Atlanta and now I'll do what I can to help. Not going to try and be a hero. Like everyone here we'll do what we can, go 110 percent on the field and try to produce every night."