After rocky road trip, O's steady the ship against Toronto

Orioles starting pitching had a good weekend, as the team took two of three games from Toronto. Entering the weekend, the O's rotation had produced just one quality start the last seven games. But they got three in three games versus the Blue Jays.

Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman and Wade Miley gave up a combined five earned runs over 19 innings for a series ERA of 2.37. This is the first time the Orioles had three straight quality starts since posting four in a row April 19-22.

Miley gave up the first inning three-run homer to Devon Travis. The runs were unearned after Jonathan Schoop's two-out error. But it was another strong game by Miley, who has allowed two earned runs or less seven times in nine starts. He is 0-2, but with an ERA of 0.92, in four home starts.

"He did a great job," catcher Caleb Joseph said. "I was really impressed with the way he changed speeds on his fastball. That in itself can present different pitches. You can have three or four different pitches with the fastball by adding and subtracting. Real veteran thing. I'm just real excited about what he's figured out and found over the past two, three months. It's real encouraging.

"Veterans, they back off when they get under pressure. They don't hit the gas. They back off, and he did a lot today. He induced a lot of weak contact, so I really wish we could have pushed runs across because he really deserved a win today."

But the Orioles, once again, could not get much going against right-hander Marco Estrada. He has already made three starts against the Orioles this season, pitching to an ERA of 1.31 over 20 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts, adding 12 on Sunday.

Trey Mancini reached twice in three plate appearances against Estrada with a double and walk. He lined a ball to right for his double in the third inning and going that way with the pitch, he said, was very much by design.

"The way he pitches, my approach was stay to right and try to beat them with singles to the right side," Mancini said. "I got a hold of a cutter the first at-bat and got it down the line. That is mostly the approach. I talked to Mark Trumbo about him before the game and he said you have to respect all his pitches and think right field."

Mancini feels the Orioles got back on track winning the series against Toronto after the recent 1-6 road trip.

"Absolutely," he said. "It was great to come back home and feel comfortable at our park. Our pitchers did a great job this whole series. Now we have another big series against the Twins and hopefully we keep it going and win another one."

Asher is good again, talks Phillies: Right-hander Alec Asher pitched two more scoreless innings Sunday, following Miley to the mound. On Friday night, Asher pitched a scoreless eighth inning in a 3-3 tie. He's getting high-leverage innings out of the bullpen in addition to the two starts he's made so far. Over 10 games, he is 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA. He has given up just two runs his last 12 2/3 innings. In 27 innings for the season, he has walked seven with 21 strikeouts and a .237 batting average against.

The Orioles acquired Asher on March 28 from the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named or cash. Last September, Asher made five Phillies starts, going 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA.

Here's a good question: Why did a rebuilding club like the Phillies part with this 25-year-old right-hander after he pitched well for them last season? He certainly looks like a nice addition for the Orioles so far.

Over the weekend, I asked Asher if he wondered that, as well.

"I think I'd drive myself crazy if I did try to think about it and read into it," he said. "I don't know everything behind the reasoning. I just try not to think about it. And I have no bad things to say about the Phillies. They gave me opportunities. I loved being there and everyone there.

"But now my goal is to essentially make them pay for giving up on me. I've always kind of played with a chip on my shoulder. Not saying they did give up on me, but for going to a different organization, I just like to build here and get better. There are not any hard feelings. It is kind of like breaking up with a girlfriend. You want to have a nice relationship with the next one."