High scoring, hit batters, Reimold's resurgence and tonight's game

In recognition of the 2015 NFL season, the Orioles scored two touchdowns on Friday and surrendered two yesterday. Manager Buck Showalter gladly would settle for one field goal and a win.

First baseman Chris Davis has been hit by pitches in three consecutive games and has walked in seven straight.

My guess is he prefers the walks, but I haven't gotten it confirmed.

The Orioles have been hit by pitches 45 times this season. The Pirates ranked first in the majors yesterday with 81, while the Royals and Rays were tied for second with 69.

Orioles pitchers have hit 46 batters, which ranked 14th before yesterday. The Royals hit 45 until tacking on three more yesterday by nailing Davis, Manny Machado and Adam Jones. No one important, of course. Just those guys.

Though it looked bad, I agree with Showalter that none of the hit batters were intentional.

Will Nolan Reimold's streak of September starts stretch to six games?

Reimold has been a regular in left field and atop the order, and he's no longer platooning against left-handed pitchers. He started again yesterday against Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura and went 2-for-5 with a home run in a 14-6 loss. The home run came against right-hander Luke Hochevar.

Reimold worked the count to 3-1 in his first two at-bats before grounding out. He reached on an infield hit and raced to second base on a throwing error in the fourth inning and struck out in the sixth inning on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.

J.J. Hardy led off the eighth with a double after going 0-for-15 this month and 11-for-70 in August. Reimold followed with his second home run in two games.

The previous night, Reimold walked twice and hit a grand slam that gave the Orioles an 8-6 lead, the ball striking the top of the foul pole in left field.

In six games this month, Reimold is 7-for-21 with two home runs, seven RBIs, five walks and eight runs scored. He's also been hit by a pitch.

"It's always been an attractive part of Nolan that through thick and thin he's been a selective hitter," Showalter said. "People talk about Nelson Cruz or Nicky Markakis or people who aren't here. What we lost more than anything was that professional deep at-bat with the walks and seeing a lot of pitches. It's just the example and trendsetter. We have some people doing that, but it's something that Nolan brings. He shows guys the return you can get for being selective.

"I think Manny has made a huge leap in his selectivity this year. And when Nolan gets it going and seeing the ball and tracking it and making good decicions on balls and strikes, he can have an at-bat and not get on base, but have a productive at-bat for the Orioles by letting everyone see a lot of pitches from the pitcher."

The Orioles wrap up their series against the Royals tonight before welcoming the Red Sox to Camden Yards. They must feel a sense of relief that David Ortiz hit his 500th home run yesterday at Tropicana Field. They don't need to host his celebration.

Does anyone remember Manny Ramirez's 500th in 2008 at Camden Yards and the fan who crawled on the roof of the visiting dugout and spun around in full breakdance mode? Not one of the prouder Orioles moments in the ballpark's history.

In Johnny Cueto's first career start against the Orioles, he allowed six runs and eight hits over five innings in an Aug. 26 game in Kansas City. He walked one batter and struck out eight.

Cueto is 2-5 with a 4.86 ERA in eight starts with the Royals after going 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts with the Reds. In his last four outings, he's surrendered 21 earned runs (22 total) and 37 hits over 20 innings.

Gerardo Parra is 8-for-26 with three doubles and two home runs lifetime against Cueto. Davis is 2-for-3 with a double and home run, Machado is 1-for-3 with a home run, Jonathan Schoop is 1-for-2 with a home run and Hardy is 2-for-15.

Wei-Yin Chen has allowed nine earned runs (10 total) and 18 hits over 9 2/3 innings in his last two starts. He's also surrendered four home runs. On the plus side, he's walked only four batters in his last five starts.

Chen is 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals in the regular season. Ben Zobrist is 14-for-37 with two doubles and a home run, Eric Hosmer is 9-for-23 with a double and two home runs, Lorenzo Cain is 8-for-18, Kendrys Morales is 5-for-12 with two doubles, Jonny Gomes is 4-for-21 with a home run and Salvador Perez is 3-for-18 with a double.