O's game blog: Looking to end a losing streak

OAKLAND - The Orioles started a losing streak on the East Coast and it continued on the West Coast with Monday's 3-2 loss at Oakland. The Orioles were held to just three hits as they lost their sixth in a row.

The Orioles (21-51) now have seven losing streaks of at least four games. They have five of four games, one of seven and the current run of six. A loss tonight would tie the season-high loss streak of seven in a row from May 18-24.

With the win, Oakland (37-36) moved a game over the .500 mark. The A's have been within one game of .500 every day since May 29. Oakland is in third in the American League West, 11 games back of division leader Houston. The A's are 2 1/2 games behind Texas for the second AL wild card spot.

The Athletics improved to 4-1 on the season against the Orioles and 9-12 versus AL East teams. Oakland has scored 38 runs in the five games with 14 home runs off Baltimore pitchers. Overall, Oakland has won four of six and is 8-6 over the last 14.

The A's are 52-26 at home since June 16, 2018 and 20-17 this season. Although the win Monday was just Oakland's second in its last nine games at Oakland Coliseum.

Last night's winning pitcher, Mike Fiers, has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 straight starts. He has a 2.70 ERA in that span and retired 16 of the last 18 batters Monday, allowing just two hits and two unearned runs over 6 2/3 innings.

Right-hander Andrew Cashner gave the Orioles their 18th quality start of the 2019 season. He gave up four hits and three runs (one earned) over six innings and 97 pitches. Cashner has allowed two earned runs in 12 innings his last two games. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his 14 starts.

Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (0-3, 5.02 ERA) gets the start for Baltimore tonight. In his four 2019 starts, he is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.300 WHIP. Ynoa made nine relief appearances before pitching in the rotation these past four games.

Lefty batters hit just .195 with a .630 OPS against him, while right-handed batters hit .355/.995. He is 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA in five road games, and the Orioles are 1-3 when he starts.

Left-hander Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.89 ERA) will make his 15th start for Oakland. He has three quality starts his past four games with a 3.33 ERA. Anderson had seven wins combined the previous three seasons and is one short of that now.

Anderson's strikeout rate of 4.92 per nine innings is the lowest in the major leagues, but he also keeps the ball in the park, allowing seven homers over 78 2/3 innings.

Anderson got the win on April 9 in Baltimore, allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings on 88 pitches. In five starts this season against AL East teams, he is 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA. In four career starts against the Orioles, he is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA.