A look at an ugly three-game losing streak and a beautiful first pitch

HOUSTON - Unfortunately for the Orioles, a three-game losing streak has truly been a team effort. Has the offense or the starting pitching been worse?

They have both been pretty bad and that is why they've been outscored 19-3 in losing the last three games. The O's offense has produced one run the last two games and three runs on 12 hits the past three. During the same span, O's starting pitchers have allowed 15 runs (14 earned) on 20 hits, with seven homers allowed over 13 innings.

On top of that, the Orioles have not scored a single run off a starting pitcher this year. They've gotten no runs and just eight hits over 27 innings versus Jake Odorrizi, Kyle Gibson, Jose Berríos and Charlie Morton.

While none of those pitchers have won Cy Young Awards, the next two pitchers they face have. Yep, Justin Verlander is the opponent tonight and Dallas Keuchel tomorrow afternoon in Houston.

Gulp.

Manager Buck Showalter last night didn't sound like a skipper ready to make lineup changes just yet, despite his club having scored six runs on the season.

"Everyone goes through it. We don't like it to happen. We want it to change yesterday, but you tip your hat to the opposition and you try to have the right amount of empathy for the challenge that it takes to play here. What are you going to do? Sit Manny (Machado) or sit (Jonathan) Schoop or make changes in the lineup. That's pretty hypocritical, quite frankly.

"You've got to trust your people. They've done it for you. The last thing they need to see is a coach or a manager or someone they're around all the time throwing everything out the window that they've done for us. They'll do it," he said.

Through four games, Tim Beckham and Chris Davis are 1-for-15. Adam Jones is 3-for-16. Caleb Joseph and Colby Rasmus are each 1-for-9, while Trey Mancini is 2-for-13 and Schoop is 2-for-17.

Beckham said he believes it could take just one solid game to get the offense going.

"Yeah. One big game. Shoot, you barrel up one ball in the gap and then you're rolling. Sometimes that's all it takes, to barrel up one ball, and for everyone to barrel up one ball, and then boom, you're hot. And once we get hot, just pass the baton and keep playing good baseball and we're going to win, for sure.

"Just continue to put together good at bats. Keep grinding out good at bats. Like I said, it's four games and it'll turn. It'll definitely turn. We're a great ballclub and we've got good hitters and we're going to hit. It's just a matter of time, and once we get going, we'll get on a roll and we'll have some fun."

The season is still very young, but the Orioles are staring at facing Verlander and Keuchel the next two days here, and then they head to New York for four games at Yankee Stadium. They need some wins soon to avoid a potentially disastrous start to the 2018 season.

Dauer's emotional pitch: The old line about "no crying in baseball" was put to a severe test last night at Minute Maid Park. Was there a dry eye anywhere when Orioles Hall of Famer Rich Dauer threw out the first pitch before the Astros' home opener?

Certainly not on the mound, where Dauer was overcome with emotion as he heaved the ball toward Houston manager A.J. Hinch. Dauer has retired as Houston's first-base coach but he was with their team for the World Series win last year. He collapsed during their victory parade and suffered an acute subdural hematoma. He was given a small chance to live, three percent, according to one of his doctors.

But amazingly, Dauer made it. He was out of the hospital in two weeks. Last night he was back at the ballpark. O's fans have seen this former second baseman make many throws to first as part of some great Orioles teams. His throw last night was the most wonderful of them all.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was very moved by Dauer's first-pitch.

"That was the highlight of the night for me," Showalter said. "I had to go up the runway. God bless him. Rich has been a big part of the Orioles family for years and I know how well respected and popular he is, for the right reasons. And that was long before he has the challenges he had. To see him get back out, it was a huge moment for him, I'm sure, but a lot of people in our dugout were right there with him."

Watch former Oriole Rich Dauer throw out the first pitch in Houston. Dauer is a former Astros coach who spent his entire 10-year playing career with the #Orioles. pic.twitter.com/axR4CWMyxU

-- Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) April 3, 2018