Starters were solid, the bats were not as O's lose twice

Orioles right-hander Matt Harvey gave up just two runs and lefty Bruce Zimmermann gave up just two as well. But neither pitcher would get a win in today's doubleheader against Seattle.

And neither would the Orioles, who scored just three runs over two games and 14 innings.

They fall twice to Seattle today by scores of 4-2 in the first game and 2-1 in the second. Now they head to Texas for a series that begins on Friday.

In the first game, Harvey was pounding his fastball, throwing it 64 percent of the time. That was more than the 57 percent he used his two- and four-seamers over his first two starts.

He took a 2-0 lead on one hit and 66 pitches to the top of the fifth. Then he got the first two outs. But with the Orioles not hitting much, the pitching margin for error is not much either. So, a two-out single was followed by Mitch Haniger's two-run homer to tie the game. The next inning the Mariners got two off Tanner Scott to lead to a 4-2 win in the opener.

But Harvey's outing is definitely something for him to build on. He allowed just three hits over 4 2/3 innings as Seattle went 3-for-18 against him, the fewest hits he has allowed in a start since giving up two over seven frames on April 28, 2019 for the Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City.

He threw 89 pitches today. His fastball averaged 93.5 mph, topping at 96. Harvey has a 5.02 ERA through three starts.

In the nightcap, Zimmermann had to really battle as it appeared he might not have had his top-notch stuff or command. But battle he did, allowing six hits and two runs with three walks and two strikeouts over five innings and 87 pitches.

Two of the hits against him were solo homers. Dylan Moore hit one to left-center on a first-pitch fastball in the third. And Haniger got Zimmermann as well. His 412-foot blast off a 1-1 changeup in the fifth broke a 1-1 tie.

The Orioles were not hitting much and the Mariners were able to do just enough to walk away with two wins today and three of four in this series. They are 8-5 and have won three of their four series.

The frustration of the O's offense was evident in the fourth of the nightcap. Trey Mancini got hit by an 0-2 pitch from right-hander Justin Dunn, who walked eight in his last start. But then Dunn struck out Maikel Franco, Ryan Mountcastle and Rio Ruiz, all on pitches outside of the strike zone. They all chased sliders, the first strike three was way outside and the last two were low and under the zone.

For the two games, the Orioles went 7-for-47 (.149) and scored just one run after Mancini's two-run homer in the opening inning of the opening game.

The Orioles now head to Texas to start a two-city, five-game road trip on Friday night.

They are 5-8 on the year and 1-6 at home. The Orioles have lost six of their past seven games and are 2-8 since beginning the season going 3-0 at Boston.