Six games, 35 runs

Don't look now, but the offensively-challenged Orioles have scored 35 runs over their past six games with a team average of .316 during the stretch. They have scored 13 runs on 25 hits with four homers in the first two games of the series at Texas. Let's see if they can keep that going, or some semblance of it, tonight vs. Cliff Lee. It's been such a tough year for Chris Tillman that even when he gets to return to the O's mound, this time it's to face a former Cy Young winner. Here are how some hitters are doing lately: Fox: Has three homers over his last five games, spanning just 10 at bats. Has four hits over his last eight at bats. Fox hit 2 homers this year in 98 at bats with Oakland, with an OPS of .591 and has three homers in 20 at bats with an OPS of .927 with the O's. Izturis: Has nine hits over his last 26 at bats and is batting .327 over his last 16 games. Jones: Over the last 19 games, he is batting .351-5-13. Lugo: Is 9 for 19 over his last seven games with two triples and 4 RBI. Markakis: Is 7 for 19 during a four-game batting streak with three doubles. Patterson: Over his last 13 games, is batting .379, with four doubles, a homer and 9 RBI. Pie: Is 4 for 16 since his return from the DL with three RBI. Wieters: Over his last 15 games is batting .354-1-11. Wigginton: Has 7 hits his last 21 at bats with 3 RBI, but just one homer over his last 40 games. Coming next week: Here is a reminder that coming next week, during the All-Star break, I will post a series of articles sizing up the Orioles minor leagues. How well are they doing? How do they develop and promote players? What about situational hitting on the farm? How important is winning in the minors? These are just some of the topics that will be addressed in depth with Andy MacPhail, John Stockstill, Gary Allenson and Will Lingo of Basetball America. Be looking for the blogs/stories beginning this Monday right here.