The pitching staff hits another bump in the road

Miguel Gonzalez gave up nine runs Wednesday, Chris Tillman allowed six runs Friday and Scott Feldman gave up five last night. What is going on here? Playing the role of Captain Obvious this morning, O's pitchers are giving up too many home runs. They have allowed seven in this series to Seattle and 12 over the last four games. The Orioles lead the majors in giving up homers with 143 on the year. Now some of that is playing at Camden Yards, and the O's have given up many more homers at home. The pitchers have allowed 86 homers in 57 home games and 57 in 54 road games. Orioles pitchers have given up two or more homers in a game 41 times this year, tying Toronto for the major league lead. The O's are now 16-25 in those games. In two games this weekend, Seattle has scored 16 runs on 10 walks and 27 hits. Orioles starters have recorded just three quality starts over the last nine games, pitching to an ERA of 6.06 in that stretch. Not good enough, Buck Showalter and O's fans might say. All is not doom and gloom, but at a time when some AL teams are getting hot and pulling out some amazing wins, the Orioles are just 4-7 over the last 11 games. Each time the starting pitching seems to get on a roll, it takes a step or two back. The O's looked like a playoff team coming out of the break and sweeping Texas on the road. But since then, they've lost series to Kansas City and Boston and could lose one today to Seattle. There is plenty of time left to turn it around and pitch better late in the year like the team did last season. But can the O's get that done?