Mychal Givens' recent struggles continue in O's Saturday night loss

It took them 13 innings to lose, but the Orioles trailed for the first time last night in the top of the eighth when Seattle's J.P. Crawford hit a three-run homer off right-hander Mychal Givens.

Givens has had a rough last week, but for many weeks before that, it appeared he was set up for a big finish to his 2019 season. Then it all changed

Those struggles have been puzzling, as he's now allowed three homers in his last four games, all in the last week. Before that, Givens had given up just two homers over a span of 26 games.

This all started a week ago yesterday when Givens allowed a game-tying homer with two outs in the last of the ninth at Detroit. On Tuesday, he gave up a homer to Justin Smoak in the ninth that put Toronto ahead 5-4. A Cavan Biggio two-run triple made it 7-4. Last night, with the Orioles leading Seattle 4-3 in the eighth, Givens gave up a three-run homer to Crawford that put Baltimore behind 6-4.

In the 11 games preceding the game at Detroit, Givens pitched to an ERA of 0.82. Over 11 innings, he allowed five hits and one run with no homers allowed in addition to 17 strikeouts to three walks. He was rolling. But it wouldn't keep going.

Going further back, in 26 games from June 20 through Sept. 13, Givens allowed two homers in 27 2/3 innings with an ERA of 2.60 and .156 average against.

Now he seems to be giving it up every time he takes the mound. Over his past four games, he's allowed eight runs (seven earned) and six hits in 3 2/3 innings, allowing three home runs. In that four-game span, he has a loss and two blown saves.

So the Orioles (50-105) have now lost five of six and 13 of 17 games. Seattle (66-89) has won six of seven and eight 11 games.

The Orioles fall to 2-7 in extra-inning games and are now 43-7 when leading after seven innings. They are 1-4 on the six-game homestand that ends today when the O's play their final 2019 home game.

Austin Hays hit a game-tying two-run homer in the last of eighth, his second homer in three games. Hays is batting .350 (7-for-20) during a five-game hitting streak. Hays has driven in a run in four straight games with five RBIs in that span.

Branden Kline worked 1 2/3 hitless innings Saturday night with two strikeouts. Kline has now held opponents scoreless for seven consecutive games covering 7 2/3 innings.