A look at the struggles of the O's offense this month

The Orioles pitching staff has a team ERA of 3.17 in May. Kansas City has a team ERA of 3.16 this year to rank first in the American League.

This month, all the O's good pitching has gotten them is a record of 9-11.

The offense is not performing nearly well enough this month and now the Orioles have scored just 3.4 runs per game in May. The frustration of the fans was bubbling over for some after last night's 1-0 loss in 13 innings. The O's were shut out by a team that had lost eight in a row and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles led the majors in runs per game in April, but now they are struggling to hit. They've scored two runs or less six times in the last 12 games and 13 times this year, going 0-13 in those games. Not good enough, said Captain Obvious.

O's offense in April: 286 average, .345 OBP, .482 slugging, 5.6 runs/game.
O's offense in May: .232 average, .289 OBP, .349 slugging, 3.4 runs/game.

Any theories for the falloff of the bats?

If they had pulled that game out last night, the Orioles would have moved within two games of first-place Tampa Bay. The O's are just 6-5 since May 11, yet have moved from 5 1/2 to three games out of first place in that time.

The Orioles have now been shut out three times in 2015, all three times in Florida, with the first two coming at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

He is not alone in not hitting, but the fan frustration continues with Chris Davis, with some calling for him to be benched or dropped in the order. Some are venting worse sentiments, but no sense going there.

Over his past 10 games, Davis is just .3-for-36 (.083) without a homer or RBI. That 44-homer pace is now a 32-homer pace for Davis.

Too bad the Orioles ruined such a sterling pitching performance. It was especially impressive to see rookies Mike Wright and Oliver Drake combine for 10 scoreless innings.

Wright has pitched 14 1/3 scoreless over his first two starts, allowing just seven hits. Opponents are batting just .146 (7-for-48) against him and are 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Drake came on to pitch in the last of the ninth of a scoreless game and retired the side on just eight pitches. Impressive. He pitched three scoreless inning, got Martin Prado (who would later win the game) out twice and fanned Giancarlo Stanton. Beyond impressive.

It's been quite a stretch of pitching by the rookies - Wright, Drake and Tyler Wilson. They have gotten their chance, showed real promise and have been very poised.

O's starters have now pitched seven innings or more in seven of the last nine and in 13 of the last 21 games.

The rookies and the vets are getting it done most nights on the mound. They can win with this pitching. But the Orioles are just 9-11 in May and on only a 78-win pace, as the bats have fallen off the last few weeks.

Just a tough stretch or part of a bigger issue?