Jimenez needed to return momentum to Orioles

Momentum is the next day's starting pitcher. You should get it engraved on a coffee mug. Less painful than the tattoo.

What really hurt was stranding two runners in the bottom of the ninth inning and then finding out that the Red Sox scored five runs in the ninth to beat the Yankees, who must have a pool going for when Dellin Betances' shoulder will explode like a can of soda in a microwave.

The Orioles went 6-3 on their road trip, taking two of three games at Fenway Park, and Yovani Gallardo surrenders a three-run homer in the first inning last night. What happened on the road stayed on the road.

Gallardo was charged with six runs in 3 1/3 innings and the Orioles kept wasting scoring opportunities. That's a bad combination. That's loaded nachos and a roller coaster.

How do the Orioles regain the momentum? Ubaldo Jimenez outpitches Tampa Bay's Chris Archer. That's one way.

Anyone doubting that baseball is unpredictable and more than a little crazy should check the various Orioles mock playoff rotations that include Jimenez as the third starter behind Chris Tillman and Kevin Gausman.

His inclusion makes total sense, but it's the type of reversal that can snap a spine in half.

Jimenez has strung together four quality starts in a row, including the team's first complete game in two years, and his ERA is down to 5.98, the lowest mark since May 17.

In his next outing, Jimenez allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in Anaheim and fans again were done with "the same old Ubaldo." Except he later became the new-and-improved Ubaldo with the succession of quality starts and the sinking ERA.

A world sits puzzled.

The Orioles need Jimenez to stay on his roll - a baby, U.S. citizenship, ace-like stuff.

They're not getting the desired consistency from Gallardo, who had allowed three earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts, but came up short last night and also gave up eight runs in 1 1/3 innings in New York. Wade Miley is toting an 8.41 ERA since the trade. Dylan Bundy is up to 99 2/3 innings had has completed the sixth only once in his last seven outings. Tillman's next start will be only his second since coming off the disabled list, the first producing his 16th win, and the Orioles will continue to monitor the condition of his right shoulder.

Jimenez turned in a quality start against the Rays on April 26 when he allowed three runs in six innings in a 3-1 loss. He's 5-2 with a 2.89 ERA in seven career starts against Tampa Bay.

Logan Morrison is 5-for-8 with two doubles and a home run against Jimenez, but he's likely to undergo wrist surgery and is no longer a factor. Alexei Ramirez is 8-for-38 with a triple and Evan Longoria is 2-for-13 with five strikeouts.

Archer leads the American League with 217 strikeouts in 182 1/3 innings, but his 18 losses lead the majors.

Archer has quality starts in four of his last five outings. In the other, he allowed one earned run in five innings. He's 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in three starts against the Orioles this season and 3-6 with a 4.52 ERA in 12 career games.

Manny Machado is 10-for-29 with a double and home run against Archer. Chris Davis is 5-for-19 with two doubles and two home runs, J.J. Hardy is 6-for-20 with two doubles, Jonathan Schoop is 5-for-13 with a double and two home runs, Mark Trumbo is 5-for-15, Pedro Alvarez is 4-for-10 with three doubles and a home run, Adam Jones is 3-for-29, Caleb Joseph is 2-for-7 with a double and home run, and Michael Bourn is 1-for-12 with a double.

Steve Pearce is 3-for-8 with a double and two home runs, but he's shut down indefinitely after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right forearm.

Archer has registered a 2.63 ERA in 15 home starts and a 5.63 ERA in 15 road starts.

Hyun Soo Kim could be in the lineup for only the fifth time this month. Pearce is hurt and it's not like Bourn owns Archer. But I'm not sure what to think after Alvarez pinch-hit for Nolan Reimold last night and Ryan Flaherty entered the game as a defensive replacement.

I understood Flaherty against Rick Porcello at Fenway Park. The stats provided the explanation. And the Orioles have faced three left-handers in four games. But if Kim sits tonight, there will be more questions asked and the obligatory glance at the back of a milk carton.

Kim actually appeared on the on-deck circle last night in the eighth inning, but Flaherty was allowed to bat after Bourn grounded out. Kim celebrated his brief moment out of the dugout by face-planting on a bag of sunflower seeds.

But seriously, I expect him to start tonight.