Can well-traveled Wojciechowski slow the Boston bats?

The Orioles enjoyed blowout wins Wednesday and Friday when their pitching staff gave up two runs each night. But in allowing 17 runs last night, they absorbed a 17-6 blowout loss to Boston.

It was the 19th time that the Orioles have allowed 10 runs or more, tied for the major league lead with Seattle. According to STATS, they've allowed 12 runs or more 12 times this year to lead the majors, with Colorado next with eight such games. They've allowed 16 runs or more four times to lead the major leagues, with Colorado next with three.

Today, right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (0-3, 5.74 ERA) will try to slow the Red Sox bats. The 30-year-old vet was with the Orioles last year and pitched at Triple-A Norfolk. In July 2018 ,he took an opt-out and got his release. But now he's back, traded July 1 from Cleveland to Baltimore for cash considerations, and he started for the Orioles the next day.

On Tuesday, he got the start against the Washington Nationals and gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings, allowing homers to Matt Adams and Juan Soto.

Wojciechowski has a real comfort level with the Orioles, having been in the organization just last year.

"It's kind of strange that I played with this team last year, being in big league camp and then pitching at Norfolk for half the season," he said. "Then getting traded back over in the middle of this season is kind of a crazy experience. But I came in and I know 75 percent of the guys here that I played with last year. Almost as if I never left without being here.

"It's a good group of guys here. I've been with eight organizations and walked into some clubhouses and didn't know a single person. Knowing a lot of the guys here makes you more comfortable and you can be yourself and reach your full potential. It's big to have that comfort level."

At 30, Wojciechowski is still chasing the big league dream and getting it right now with the Birds. Today will be his 15th major league start.

The Orioles were actually his sixth organization following time with Toronto, Miami, Houston, Arizona and Cincinnati. After he left the Orioles last year, he played with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland.

What keeps him going after all that?

"Honestly, I think it's my love for the game," he said. "I love to play baseball. It gets tough when you change organizations and each time you think that will be the one and you'll have a long career. But, you know, as long as I am able to play this game at the highest level and still love the game, I'm going to keep on doing it."

Wojciechowski today faces former Oriole Andrew Cashner in the series finale.

Saturday on the farm: Short-season Single-A Aberdeen outfielder Johnny Rizer hit for the cycle Saturday night as the IronBirds beat Staten Island 11-0. Rizer went 5-for-5, and his night included a solo homer in the first, a single in the fourth, a double in the sixth and a triple in the eighth. The seventh-round pick this year out of TCU is 8-for-9 over his past three games. Aberdeen is 20-15.

Triple-A Norfolk scored 10 runs in the second inning in a 12-11 win over Lehigh Valley. DJ Stewart drove in three as eight Tides had RBIs.

Double-A Bowie won yet again, beating Altoona 7-6 in 10 innings. Yusniel Diaz hit a game-tying homer in the eighth and Ryan McKenna's single in the 10th provided the walk-off win. Lefty Alex Wells threw six scoreless innings at the start, lowering his league-leading ERA to 1.83 and Dillon Tate threw 2 2/3 scoreless frames at the end to get the victory. Bowie is 23-6 in the second half.

Single-A Frederick beat Lynchburg 3-1 as catcher Brett Cumberland's two-run homer in the eighth broke a 1-1 tie. Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez gave up six runs in one-third of an inning as West Virginia beat Single-A Delmarva 12-10. Rodriguez's ERA jumped from 2.15 to 2.94.

And, of course, as you've no doubt heard by now, catcher Adley Rutschman hit his first pro homer Saturday afternoon as the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles lost 6-4 to the Pirates. Rutschman, who should play for Aberdeen next weekend, went 1-for-4.