Second half starts with a thud as Orioles lose at Detroit

Their starting pitcher got hammered. Their hitters struggled with runners in scoring position again. Simply stated, the Orioles began the second half with a terrible game.

They lost 7-3 at Detroit to fall to 44-45. They are under .500 for the first time since June 11 when they were 29-30.

Ubaldo Jimenez ended the first half by giving up just one run in 20 innings over his last three starts. Tonight's outing was nothing like that.

Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first to give the Tigers the lead, and Jimenez also allowed homers to Jose Iglesias (just his second in 256 at-bats) and J.D. Martinez. Iglesias hit a three-run shot in the fourth to give Detroit a 6-2 lead.

The three homers allowed tied Jimenez's career high. Jimenez had allowed just eight homers in his first 17 starts and three in his past seven starts coming into tonight.

He gave up seven runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings to fall to 7-5 with an ERA of 3.29. His previous season high for runs allowed was four.

Meanwhile, Orioles batters went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. They hit some hard hit balls that were turned into outs. Chris Davis was robbed yet again of a homer in the third, and an inning later, Jimmy Paredes crushed a liner to right but it was caught with the bases loaded and two outs. Still, the Orioles had other chances and came up short. The Orioles are 1-for-34 with RISP the last five games and 2-for-50 the past seven contests.

Jonathan Schoop went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Adam Jones and Matt Wieters added two hits. But the Orioles left six runners on base the first four innings and 11 for the game.

The Orioles have lost three straight, six of seven and 11 of 14. They are 17-27 on the road.

In the second game of the second half tomorrow night, Chris Tillman (6-7, 5.40 ERA) faces left-hander David Price (9-2, 2.38 ERA).