Jones and Wieters on the offensive struggles (plus other quotes)

HOUSTON - The Orioles struck out 19 times tonight in a 13-inning, 3-2 loss to the Houston Astros. They have now struck out 40 times the last three games while scoring just seven runs.

After the game, outfielder Adam Jones said the team is frustrated and he knows the Orioles fans are too. For now they just have to turn the page and try to get the second game of this series tomorrow night.

"We are really good at that (moving on to the next game)," Jones said. "Obviously it's frustrating. (Chris) Tillman threw a helluva game. Our bullpen, money as usual. Our offense couldn't muster runs except for the two home run swings.

"We want to be a team that is dynamic and not just rely on the home run. That is why a lot of us were frustrated as we got later in the game. We had some opportunities and we didn't come through. All we needed to do is get a hit and not try and hit a home run.

"We're humans and we know ourselves. They always say 'Do what you do best.' What we do best is tee high and let it fly. Sometimes teeing high and let it fly we swing at everything low," he said.

I asked Jones if this stretch of mounting strikeouts is just part of a long season with ups and down or if the team's approach at the plate concerns him right now.

"Well, nothing concerns me," he said. "We have a team that drives the ball. And, the opposite of driving the ball is strikeouts. We've got some guys - myself, CD (Chris Davis), (Mark) Trumbo - that will strike out from time to time. It's okay, but I think people are happy with how we drive the ball and the numbers we usually put up. The last few games, we racked up some strikeouts, but it's all part of it. Because as soon we start to drive the ball and hit the home runs and get extra-base hits, you guys are going to forget all about it.

"It's frustrating and I'm sure the fans are frustrated. But, it's part of our makeup, our DNA as a team. We just need to get better at situational. Just take the single. It's not easy, but just do it," Jones said.

Catcher Matt Wieters talked about the mounting strikeouts for the Orioles, who have scored three runs or fewer in five of their past seven games.

"Our offense has the capability to turn it around with one swing," Wieters said. "We're confident we'll get back here tomorrow and be ready to go."

Does Wieters feel hitting offspeed pitches has been an issue in recent games?

"I don't look at it (that way). (Doug) Fister actually threw a lot of fastballs. You can't say he just threw offspeed at us. You have to give credit to the guy on the other mound. They are making pitches and we're missing some we can hit. That turns around with one swing."

MORE CLUBHOUSE QUOTES

Manager Buck Showalter on the O's pitchers: "Our guys pitched really well. Just at the end, their guy caught a ball and hit it over our center fielder's head. Tillman got one changeup up that (Luis) Valbuena hit out. Most nights that is good enough. Really pleased with our guys especially out of the bullpen and Chris again. You watched it, we just struck out a lot and didn't score any runs. You still would like to figure out a way to scratch some across and make good use out of a real good outing by our pitching staff."

Showalter on the strikeouts: "It is something we've had a challenge with. Tonight, you are always going to give credit to their pitchers. They're good. We're getting a lot of, it's kind of like finishing the at-bat off. We are working our way into a good count and it looks like we are going to get a basehit or a walk and we just can't finish the at-bat off, like we were earlier in the year and we have to get back to that. We are letting them expand the strikezone on us and that is what pitchers up here do."

Chris Tillman on the pitch that Valbuena homered on: "That wasn't a very good pitch. It was a long at-bat. I left an offspeed pitch up and over and he put a good swing on it. I think he hit a similar pitch last year off me. You got to make better pitches than that."

Tillman on the bullpen tonight: "Outstanding. They have been all year. Those guys throw the ball well and pick us up. They got us to where we were in that game. It was a well-pitched game, both sides."

The Orioles hit two more homers tonight. For the third time in club history they have 65 or ore homers in the first 43 games. They hit 67 in the first 43 games in 1987 and 65 in 2012. The Orioles are tied for the major league lead in homers with Tampa Bay and the New York Mets.

Tillman now has seven consecutive quality starts, a career high. He is 5-0 with an ERA of 1.84 in that span.

Houston snapped a four-game losing streak with its second walk-off win of the year. The Astros have played eight one-run games in their last 10 contests, going 3-5 in those games.