Jimenez exits early, benches empty late as Oakland beats the O's

The Orioles' chances to win a series against the team with the best record in the American League went downhill about the time Ubaldo Jimenez was imploding during Oakland's six-run third inning. Oakland beat the Orioles 11-1 this afternoon in front of 38,244 at Camden Yards to take the series two wins to one and improve to 39-24. Despite the lopsided score, this game got heated in the last of the eighth, and for the second time in this series, the dugouts emptied. This time, it happened with Manny Machado at bat in the eighth. Fernando Abad threw a pitch close to Machado and on the second pitch, Machado sent his bat flying down the third base line. Players then came rushing onto the field. Both Machado and Abad were ejected (Machado's second career ejection) and order was quickly restored, although it was pretty heated there for a brief time. Jimenez had a rough day, walking four batters and allowing a grand slam to Brandon Moss in that inning. In 2 1/3 innings, his shortest outing as an Oriole, Jimenez gave up just two hits, but walked five as he allowed a season-high six runs. Brad Brach, who replaced Jimenez, walked five over two innings as the O's issued 10 walks in the first 4 1/3 inning today and 11 overall. O's pitchers had not walked 10 in a game since July 20, 2010 against Tampa Bay and that was a 13-inning game. The last time the O's issued 10 walks in a nine-inning game was Sept. 13, 2008 in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Twins, a 12-2 loss. Jimenez and Brach walked the Nos. 7-9 hitters consecutively once each. Yep, it was that bad. Jimenez had an ERA of 2.90 in seven starts since May 1, but this was his worst of the year today. He is now 2-7 with an ERA of 5.01. In six home starts, he is 0-5 with an ERA of 7.02. Oakland starter Scott Kazmir, meanwhile, blanked the Orioles on four hits over seven innings to improve to 7-2 with a 2.20 ERA. He shut down an O's team that had scored 38 runs over the last six games. The O's got on the board when Chris Davis drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth. The Orioles (31-30) had won five of seven games and were trying to hand Oakland just its third road series loss but that didn't happen. After regrouping following Friday's tough loss, now the Orioles must do so after a blowout loss with Boston in town on Monday. Bud Norris (4-5, 4.41 ERA) faces Jake Peavy (1-3, 4.72 ERA) in the opener of a three-game series and the O's first game against an AL East opponent since May 8.