Windy city blowout: Alex Cobb exits early, Sox roll 11-1 (with quotes)

CHICAGO - The night began with some promise for Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb. He had pitched to an ERA of 3.38 his previous four starts. He retired his seven batters faced. But when it turned against him, it turned fast.

Cobb allowed six runs and eight hits over 3 2/3, as the Chicago White Sox beat the Orioles 11-1 at Guaranteed Rate Field. They have taken two of the first three in this series. The Orioles fall to 15-34 overall and 5-21 on the road, where they have lost 17 of their past 19.

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With one out in the home third, Cobb walked Tim Anderson and No. 9 hitter Adam Engel singled. Then leadoff batter Yoan Moncada drilled a hanging curveball 421-feet to center and it was 3-0 just that fast. Cobb allowed three more hits in the inning and the White Sox lead grew to 4-1 on Daniel Palka's RBI single.

An inning later Cobb got the first two batters out but then allowed four straight to reach. The Sox got RBI singles by Yolmer Sánchez and José Abreu to lead 6-1. That Abreu hit ended his night.

Cobb falls to 1-6 with an ERA of 7.32 over eight starts, and the Orioles are 1-7 in those games. Tonight he tied for his second-shortest outing of the year and allowed six or more runs for the third time, which denied him a chance to record his 50th career win.

It got even worse for the Orioles when the White Sox stole two bases and scored three runs off Pedro Araujo in the fifth. After Anderson's bloop RBI single, Engel came through again. He hit a two-run homer to left for a 3-for-3 night as the lead grew to 9-1. Engel went 4-for-4. Jóse Rondòn's first career homer, a two-run shot off Tanner Scott in the seventh made it 11-1.

The White Sox were well on their way to a 15-31 record and were blowing out the Orioles.

Meanwhile the Orioles offense has had a miserable series in Chicago, producing six total runs in three games and going 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position. Tonight they were shut down by right-hander Dylan Covey, making his 14th career major league start. He began tonight with a career ERA of 7.58. But he held the Orioles to one run in a career-best seven innings with eight strikeouts.

The Orioles got their only run when they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Danny Valencia singled with one out and later scored on Jace Peterson's two-out single. The Orioles have scored just nine runs their past five games and 19 in the last eight contests.

The Orioles are 2-5 now on this 11-game road trip. They have lost six of eight, 14 of 21 and 28 of their last 39 games. Dylan Bundy (2-6, 4.70 ERA) faces right-hander Lucas Giolito (3-4, 6.42 ERA) to wrap up this four-game series on Thursday afternoon.

Postgame note: After the game manager Buck Showalter said he doesn't believe there is any structural damage to Mark Trumbo's right knee. He said "we'll see what tomorrow brings without broadcasting what it is." The Orioles doctors in Sarasota will see both Trumbo and pitcher Darren O'Day on Friday early in the afternoon. As of right now, it doesn't appear the Orioles will make a roster move before Thursday's game.

Postgame quotes

Cobb on pitching well early and then getting hit around: "I don't know. I was feeling really good to start the game. But getting back out there in the third or so, the ball just wasn't going where I was feeling like I was aiming for. I tried to overcompensate that a little bit and used too much of my body. I just didn't feel like the ball was coming out very well, and going to where I was looking to drive it. I left some balls over the plate, and more importantly, left some curveballs up that got hit. The velocity was good. But on the mound, it felt there was a little bit...not much life on the ball."

Cobb on if he is not making a good first impression for Orioles fans: "There's been some absolute difficulties for not only me, but us as a team to start the season. But I'm not going to look into how people view me as a pitcher. I'd obviously love to go out there and show the fanbase and all of baseball that the Orioles made the right decision in getting me, but it hasn't gone according to plan to start the season. I no doubt believe that I will return to form, and this commitment that made - we made to each other - that it'll end up working out for both sides. But you do your best convincing when you're on the mound and pitching a good game. I plan on not looking too much into the stats and the overall season of numbers, but going game-to-game and trying to put a good streak together."

Jonathan Schoop on the struggling offense: "We're trying. We're trying since Day One. We just have to keep working and go out there and compete. Sometimes that is all you can do. You cannot say you are going to do it. Everybody wants to drive runs in. Nobody on this team wants to fail or strikeout. We're trying to do good."

Showalter on Cobb: "He just started elevating pitches and was not getting the ball where he wanted to get it. Started out really good. Solid. Had a shutdown inning and thought he was on his way. But some breaking balls he got up. I thought there was a better outing to be had for him. He had a little better feel for his changeup toward the end I thought."

Showalter was asked if options are limited to jump-start the offense?: "I would never say that. Dan (Duquette) would never say that. Scott (Coolbaugh) would never say that. The players would never say that. We continue to look for ways. But we just have to find a way to score more runs. That creates a tough mindset for your pitching staff."