Davis' offensive woes continue and more notes (O's lose 5-2)

MIAMI - Batting in the second inning today, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis took a knuckle-curve from Marlins starter Tom Koehler for a third strike, making him 3-for-37 in his last 11 games.

Davis hasn't hit a home run or driven in a run during that span, and he's struck out 13 times. His average is down to .208, with 62 strikeouts in 40 games.

"He seems to be in between everything," said manager Buck Showalter. "He gets in swing mode and then ... It's tough because you're trying to be selective, which he's had some challenges with, and then you get into where you're taking some strikes with two strikes that obviously you shouldn't be. He thinks they're balls and you go back and look at them and they're close enough that you need to be swinging.

"We need him to be more consistent and it's been a challenge for him."

The Orioles fell behind today 1-0 in the second inning. Miguel Gonzalez gave up a leadoff single to Martin Prado and a double to Justin Bour - giving the Marlins three hits among their first five batters. Christian Yelich grounded to first, scoring Prado with the game's first run.

Bour reached third base, but he was stranded. Gonzalez has thrown 32 pitches in two innings.

J.J. Hardy, batting .182 in 15 games, is out of the lineup, but the decision isn't based on an injury. Hardy's left shoulder apparently is fine.

"I don't want to go too fast on him and assume," Showalter said. "I talked to him today. He wanted to play, but I think he needs a day. We've got a day game tomorrow. We've got a really challenging schedule now."

The Orioles need an extra starter for Thursday's doubleheader and the options include T.J. McFarland, Tyler Wilson and Bud Norris.

Norris is scheduled to start Wednesday at Double-A Bowie, but he's now in Thursday's mix.

Reliever Chaz Roe, whose contract was selected today from Triple-A Norfolk, said he received the call around 12:30 a.m., packed and headed to the airport.

"It was exciting," he said. "It's always exciting to get that call. I'm just happy to be here and whatever I have to do to help the team."

Roe knew the Orioles were short on fresh bullpen arms.

"Watched the game a little bit after our game and kind of went home and relaxed and that's when I got the call," he said.

Roe, signed as a free agent in December, was 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA and two saves in 17 games at Norfolk.

"I struggled the first couple weeks and then I started getting my groove and starting throwing more strikes, quality strikes," he said.

Roe's role hasn't been defined, which is the norm with the Orioles. Just be ready to pitch.

"Whenever the phone rings," Roe said, "I'm out there and will do whatever they ask for."

Update: The Marlins loaded the bases in the third inning and scored a run on Martin Prado's grounder. Marlins 2, Orioles 0.

The Orioles don't have a baserunner through three innings. They haven't scored in their last 17 innings, and they have two hits in their last 10.

Update II: Marcell Ozuna collected his third hit in four innings today, a two-out, two-run single that increased Miami's lead to 4-0. Dee Gordon was walked intentionally with first base open to get to Ozuna.

Update III: Prado led off the fifth with a home run, and the Orioles are down 5-0.

Chaz Roe continues to warm in the bullpen.

The Orioles finally got their first baserunner and hit in the top of the fifth when Davis walked and Everth Cabrera singled up the middle.

Update IV: Gonzalez allowed a career-high 10 hits in four-plus innings. The Marlins lead 5-0 heading to the top of the sixth.

Roe retired all three batters he faced and stranded two runners.

Update V: Manny Machado walked in the sixth, David Lough singled and Jimmy Paredes lifted a sacrifice fly to reduce Miami's lead to 5-1.

The Orioles hadn't scored in their last 19 innings.

Update VI: The Orioles scored once in the eighth, but they left the bases loaded when Ryan Lavarnway bounced out. Marlins 5, Orioles 2.

Lavarnway is 3-for-28 this season.

The run scored on Davis' bases-loaded grounder to first.

Brian Matusz retired the side in order in the seventh and he's back out for the eighth. Can't tell whether his arm is glistening.

Update VII: Game over. The last-place Marlins take two of three with a 5-2 win over the Orioles.

The Orioles are 19-22 overall.