Brian Matusz on his struggles, Ubaldo Jimenez on his rough outing

Orioles lefty reliever Brian Matusz had allowed four runs in his first six appearances this season. Tonight he allowed four runs in just 1 2/3 innings as the Orioles got routed 10-0 by Seattle.

It was the O's largest shutout loss since a 11-0 defeat against Houston on July 31, 2013 at Camden Yards. It was their largest shutout loss versus Seattle since 11-0 on May 20, 2004.

Called on to face lefty hitting Kyle Seager with two on in the fifth inning, Matusz allowed a three-run homer on an 0-2 pitch that made it 7-0. He has an ERA of 12.00 in seven appearances and will need to turn it around in a hurry.

What does he look to or lean on right now to try and do that?

"I've just got to get better," Matusz said. "Have to make better pitches. Have to keep working, staying on it. Make better pitches, get stronger, stay on track and keep going. That is all I can do."

Tonight, he allowed five hits, including two home runs. He has given up three homers over six innings on the season.

As for tonight's outing, Matusz said: "Poor pitching execution. Seager, I get ahead 0-2 and throw a fastball meaty, down the middle and up in the zone. It was a bad pitch. With Nelson Cruz there, it was changeup that was intended to be down, low and away and it was up in the zone. So just poor pitch execution.

"It is tough. It's frustrating. Especially with the situation right there with Seager, with Ubaldo (Jimenez's) runners on base, I want to get the job done. All of us in the bullpen, we take pride in being able to get the job done and so far this year I haven't been able to do it. It's frustrating. You know, things can only get better from here.

"I feel healthy, I feel fine. I just haven't found that rhythm yet, found that groove. Something you just have to keep working, keep throwing."

Matusz, who has a career .207 average against facing lefty batters, was frustrated allowing a homer to a lefty hitter tonight.

"That predominantly has been my role, series like this, there will be that opportunity," Matusz said. "You know to come in that situation there to bail Ubaldo out and not getting the job done, there is nothing more frustrating than that."

Do his current struggles compare to any others he has had throughout his career?

"I mean, it's not a good feeling. I've been there before. Had struggles and fortunately in the past have been able to get through that. That is kind of the situation where I have to do that now.

"To be pretty much the lone lefty in the bullpen right now, obviously with Zach Britton as closer. I have that job to get left-handed hitters out. And, to be able to join this bullpen, a really good bullpen, a good group of guys, to get in that mix, to do that. All I can do is keep trucking."

Jimenez had shortest outing of the year, allowing six runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. It was his shortest start since going 2 1/3 innings on July 23, 2015 at New York against the Yankees.

"I think after the first inning I was able to settle down," Jimenez said. "But in the fifth inning, there were able to find some holes. Two out of the three hits they got, I think I just made good pitches to (Nori) Aoki and (Robinson) Cano, but they found a hole.

"This is disappointing. As a starting pitcher, you want to get deep in the game and give your team a chance to win. But it's part of the game. I have to keep working and find a way to move on and get ready for my next one."

The Orioles went just 2-for-30 at bat tonight. Adam Jones' eight-game hitting streak ended. Chris Davis went 1-for-2 with a double. Over his last nine games he is batting .433 (13-for-30).