Buck Showalter speaks after Orioles' 7-4 loss

The Orioles are only one game above .500 again and still unable to solve the riddle of why they can't get a big hit with runners in scoring position.

They'd settle for a small one.

The Orioles went 0-for-8 with RISP tonight in a 7-4 loss to the Nationals before 44,495 at Camden Yards. They had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Chris Parmelee flied out and Adam Jones popped up.

The most recent failings made the Orioles 0-for-15 with RISP in this series, 1-for-35 in the last five games and 5-for-69 in the last 10 games.

"We've been talking about it," said manager Buck Showalter. "We've done a good job over the course of a long season. We're getting a lot of people out there. Jimmy (Paredes) had a good at-bat and gave us one there. Sometimes, I think we're trying to do too much and that's a lot easier to say. You tell them not to.

"At this level, pitchers make a living at letting you get yourself out and I think that's happening, but that's true every night in some form or fashion."

Showalter said he doesn't sense any frustration from his players.

"We're trying to win," he said. "We know we have to score more runs than they do. It's the major leagues. Pitchers are good, too. You're not just going to have it click every night, but it doesn't keep you from trying to. It's hard. Pitchers are good. There's a reason why they're in first place. We'll get better at it."

The Orioles had runners at first and second with no outs in the seventh and the Nationals ahead by two runs. Showalter instructed Chris Parmelee to bunt, and catcher Wilson Ramos threw out Caleb Joseph at third base.

"There's a lot of factors that figure into it," Showalter said. "I wanted to try to keep the guy that was struggling with his command in the ballgame. Try to get the game to two of our better hitters with Adam and Jimmy, who's been swinging the bat well tonight. Didn't want them to make a pitching change.

"A lot of people just eat that and go to first base. Obviously, a lot of other things happened."

What happened to Miguel Gonzalez? He retired 10 batters in a row before serving up two home runs and failing to record an out in the sixth.

"Early on, his command wasn't there," Showalter said. "You could tell, but he seemed to find his step the third, fourth and fifth inning. And then I think it was kind of a hanging split to (Danny) Espinosa. I thought it was a little bit of a challenge for him. Not as good as he's capable of being, but that sixth inning caught up with him. Flare hurt him a little bit. Kind of happened quickly after that.

"Got to give them a little credit, too, but I didn't think he was very sharp tonight early on. But Miguel like a lot of good pitchers kind of find their step third, fourth and fifth, but it wasn't there for him in the sixth. Chaz (Roe) was good, held it close. We had some people out there and some good people up and just couldn't get over the hump there."

Chris Davis was a late scratch with the stomach flu and his status for Sunday's series finale is unknown.

"First time I got an idea was about 5:30, 5:45, somewhere in there," Showalter said. "He had been throwing up, a couple times. Was pretty weak. He took an IV and started to feel better. Tried to get some fluids in him. But he was pretty ill. He stayed around to take the IV and be monitored by our medical people. I don't think he ever ran a temperature. They didn't feel like he was infectious. Something intestinally, we hope. See what tomorrow brings. He got a little better as the game went on."

Jones was shaken up after sliding at first base to avoid Tyler Moore and taking a mitt to his face.

"It was more of a tag in the face and jaw," Showalter said. "When he went down, I wasn't sure what it was. Not a fun trip out there with any of your players. Adam doesn't lay on the ground very long unless something's bothering him. He's not one of those guys that enjoys ill health."