O's game blog: Jimenez on the mound as O's try to avoid the sweep

The Orioles went 9-5 at Minnesota from 2011-14, but they have lost the first two games of this series. A loss today and they would be swept three straight in Minnesota for the first time since April 2-4, 2007.

The Orioles are still looking for some clutch hits. They went 0-5 with runners in scoring position in the first two innings last night in an 8-3 loss at Target Field.

The O's are 5-for-50 with RISP the last seven games:

* Went 0-for-7 scoring four runs on 7/1 against Texas.
* Went 0-for-3 with no runs on 7/2 against Texas.
* Went 0-for-4 with no runs on 7/3 at Chicago.
* Went 0-for-2 scoring two runs on 7/4 at Chicago.
* Went 4-for-18 scoring nine runs on 7/5 at Chicago.
* Went 0-for-8 scoring two runs on 7/6 at Minnesota.
* Went 1-for-8 scoring three runs on 7/7 at Minnesota.

Even with that recent RISP slump, the Orioles still lead the majors with a .299 team batting average with RISP.

The Twins began this series coming off a 4-6 road trip and with a record of 13-20 since June 1. But today, they can complete the sweep. Minnesota has the best record in the league against teams from the AL East, going 11-4. That includes 5-2 versus Boston, 2-0 against the Orioles and 2-1 versus both Tampa Bay and Toronto.

Over their last seven games, Twins starters have pitched to an ERA of 2.22.

O's starters had pitched to an ERA of 1.85 the previous six games with five quality starts, until Kevin Gausman allowed a career-high eight runs last night in just 3 2/3 innings - the shortest start of his career.

The Orioles are 43-41 and have lost five of six and seven of nine games. Over a longer stretch, they have won 18 of 29 and 20 of the last 32 games.

On the mound today, Ubaldo Jimenez (7-4, 2.96 ERA) pitches against left-hander Tommy Milone (4-1, 3.02 ERA).

Jimenez has allowed just one run in 15 innings over his last two starts. He has eight quality starts and the Orioles are 9-7 in his starts. Jimenez has pitched well early in his outings with an ERA of 0.56 in the first inning, 2.25 in the second and 2.81 in the third inning.

After pitching seven innings or more in just three of his 22 starts last season, he has gone that far in seven of 16 starts in 2015.

With today's start, Jimenez becomes the 11th Dominican Republic-born pitcher to log 250 career starts. Also, at 1495 1/3 innings pitched, he's just shy of 1,500 for his career. According to STATS, LLC., he will become the 15th DR-born pitcher to notch at least 1,500.

Milone has allowed two earned runs or less six straight starts, going 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in that span. He is 3-1 with a 4.43 ERA and .330 average against in four home game starts.