Jimenez needs to be stopper as skid reaches three games

If the Orioles are going to avoid a four-game sweep in Seattle, they'll need to do some damage against the pitcher who no-hit them last season.

A quality start from Ubaldo Jimenez also would be an asset. Or maybe a bullpen that keeps the team in the game, a missing element in last night's 12-6 loss.

Tyler Wilson put the Orioles in an early hole after surrendering a three-run homer to Nelson Cruz in the first inning and a two-run shot to Mike Zunino in the second. He was charged with eight runs in three innings and has allowed 16 runs and 28 hits in 14 innings since the eight scoreless at Fenway Park. His ERA has swelled to 5.22.

If the Orioles are going to stay in-house for rotation help, they seem inclined to skip over Mike Wright despite his 0.87 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Norfolk. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters yesterday in Seattle that Wright has been "OK," that the results are better than the actual performance.

We're reminded again of the huge jump between Triple-A and the majors.

Wright could come into play later, but the Orioles may as well leave him alone to continue working out the kinks and building confidence.

In the meantime, executive vice president Dan Duquette is trying to acquire another starter. I saw a comment on the blog yesterday questioning when Duquette is going to "get off his butt" and get a pitcher. It's not that simple. The other team has to agree to the deal, and the Orioles don't have a surplus of prospects on the table.

They have to be willing to part with certain players and the other team has to like what's being offered. It's not about simply picking up the phone.

Jimenez has won his last two starts, both against the Padres, with three runs and seven hits allowed in 11 innings. He walked eight batters, getting away with littering the bases against a team that couldn't clean up.

The Mariners are a different animal. Wilson was the latest to find out last night.

Jimenez is 2-2 with a 5.05 ERA in six career starts against the Mariners and 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA in two starts at Safeco Field, with five runs and 11 hits in 11 1/3 innings.

Robinson Cano is 8-for-14 with three doubles and two home runs against Jimenez. Nelson Cruz is 2-for-14 with nine strikeouts - go figure - and Leonys Martin is 1-for-11 with a home run.

Hisashi Iwakuma no-hit the Orioles on Aug. 12, 2015 at Safeco Field. They haven't forgotten.

Seventh time in franchise history. Never gets easier.

"It's not just a normal loss," Adam Jones told reporters afterward. "We're going down in the history books on the bad side of a no-hitter."

Iwakuma has completed six innings in eight of his last nine starts. Right-handers are hitting .249 against him, but left-handers are hitting .319.

Iwakuma is 1-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 0.857 WHIP in four career starts against the Orioles covering 28 2/3 innings. The current group is 10-for-67 (.149) against him.

Jones is 0-for-11, J.J. Hardy is 0-for-9, Chris Davis is 3-for-10 with a double and home run and Mark Trumbo is 3-for-11 with a double and home run.