Chris Davis on trying to find positives, David Hess on his start

Tonight, they faced one of the best in the business, but it hasn't always been that way. Tonight, Max Scherzer fanned 12 Orioles as Washington beat the Orioles 2-0 in front of 20,370 at Oriole Park as the Nationals swept the three-game series.

First baseman Chris Davis talked about losing to such a good pitcher: "They don't just hand out Cy Youngs and I think he's got a few of them."

But for the Orioles offense, this was yet another quiet night. They were shut out for the sixth time and have scored eight runs their last six games and 23 in the last 11.

Davis was asked what is wrong with the offense.

"I don't think anything is necessarily wrong," he said. "Every night, we try to go out and execute a game plan. The guys we face are good, man. Our lineup, at times, can be very one-dimensional. We have a lot of sluggers and when we are swinging it, it looks pretty good. But when we're not, it is tough to come by runs. We just have to continue to grind. We are not even close to where we want to be. But that's when we find out who the real players are here and that's when we find out really the guts of the team.

"I know there has been some talk about a rebuild. But we have to live in the here and now. That is taking positives away from every night and rallying around each other. And that is all you can do."

Even with his own average down to .156, Davis said he is finding some positives.

"Absolutely. You have to find ways to encourage guys," he said. "I heard something earlier today and it hit home with me. Once your at-bat is over with, whether you succeed or fail, your job is to root for your teammate. I think that really had an impact on me. When things aren't going your way, you have to find some way to impact the team in a positive manner. For me, it has always been encouragement. Trying to pick guys up, trying to encourage them and tell them what I think they are doing well and it's contagious. That is something that has caught on and I've noticed it and hopefully it is something we can build on.

"Playing a game where you have to deal with so much failure, for me, it has always been easier to encourage other guys than it has to sink into myself or kind of feel sorry for myself. I used to wear a shirt and I may have to dig it out and start sporting it again, that says 'encouragement' on it. Nobody wants to go home feeling like a loser every day. When you are not winning ballgames you have to do something to be happy about and to find a positive in a lot of negative situations."

Davis certainly found positives in O's right-hander David Hess, who recorded his third quality start in four starts, allowing one run and four hits over six innings.

"I thought David Hess threw the ball outstanding tonight for a guy that has only been here a few days and made a couple of starts," he said. "To go toe-to-toe with one of the best in the game says a lot about him and a little bit about the future of this club."

Hess threw 97 pitches and falls to 2-2 with an ERA of 3.47. The only run he gave up came when Bryce Harper hit a changeup out to left in the top of the third to break a 0-0 tie.

"I think the defense always makes good plays back there," Hess said. "First and foremost, guys taking care of business, it means a lot. It allows me to go right at them. Felt like we did a good job mixing up pitches well tonight. Chance (Sisco) called a great game. We were on the same page the whole time. Just one full count changeup - you know, that's a good hitter and he got us.

"Credit to him. He's a great hitter and that's what he does and I think he showed why he's so valuable by doing that. That's a pitch you want to get down a little bit more, but he made a good adjustment. Tip your cap to him. In the future, got to make a better pitch next time."

Hess said whether he was facing Scherzer of any other pitcher, he needed the same focus and intensity. He said his first four big league starts have filled him with confidence.

"Yeah, I think that the confidence is definitely growing," he said. "I think that with every start, I get a little bit smarter, I guess, about what I need to do to have success and how to go about my business on an everyday basis. So, yeah, I think there's definitely progression with that and I'm excited that progression has come to where it is right now."

Craig Gentry was not available to comment when reporters sought his reaction to getting caught stealing third base in the last of the ninth.

The Orioles are 17-39 and were swept for the eighth time. They are 9-19 in May after going 7-19 in April. It is the first time they've started a season with two straight losing months since 2011.