Looking for an elusive win at Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK - We certainly would not expect to hear any players or manager Buck Showalter say it, but the Orioles have to be a bit shaken by the events of this weekend at Yankee Stadium.

They came here off an impressive 3-1 run against the Nationals. But the Orioles have allowed 27 runs and 36 hits in back-to-back blowout losses to the Yankees. They have fallen three games off the pace in the American League East. Right now, they are closer to the fourth-place Yankees (leading by 2 1/2 games) then the first-place Blue Jays.

Over the last four games, the Orioles have allowed 39 runs on 61 hits and nine homers. Over the last nine games, they have given up 75 runs, have a 3-6 record and have lost four games by seven runs or more. The team ERA in those nine games is 8.42. The bullpen ERA is 9.46.

We could go on, but you get the picture. It is not a pretty one for the Orioles right now. Some fans are more convinced than ever that they are done at this point. Maybe the only true believers that they can still turn this around reside in the clubhouse.

Showalter was asked Saturday if the season-long rotation issues have finally caught up to the bullpen, which is showing signs of wear and tear.

"No," he said. "We aren't even in the league leaders in appearances. It doesn't catch up with them. We keep moving guys in and out so we don't put them in this position. You really see in August, you get paid back for it physically. You look at the DL list this time of year, that's when it's probably the most accurate, you get a feel for it."

"Sometimes you can handle guys with kid gloves and still have issues, not necessarily physical issues, but production issues. It's a hard thing. That's why they call it the dog days of August. It happens with pitchers, hitters, everybody."

A reporter asked third baseman Manny Machado if one key hit or getting an early lead could turn this around today.

"I mean, we've put ourselves in that situation," Machado said. "It's just ... we started out the game (down) 1-0. We come back and tied the game. But they came back in the key situations. Nothing's going for us right now. We're not upset. We're not going to cry about it. We're going to strap on the cleats, put the uniform on and go back to battle."

One more stat that is a real negative for the Orioles right now: They have lost their past three AL East games by scores of 8-1, 14-4 and 13-5. They have lost four straight division games and are 2-10 in the last 12. Hard to win a division title playing to that record.

Gloom and doom has enveloped the Orioles at this point. Their fans feel it and they must feel some of it. After all, there are humans and not machines inside those uniforms.

But here is another point: What if the team went on a four-game winning streak against New York and Toronto? Their outlook would be as bright as the midday sun.

The next four days present four big division games for the team. Can they turn doom and gloom into something more light and bright?

Is it time to save the season? Is that too dramatic?

On the farm: Double-A Bowie's Chance Sisco was selected as catcher and Garabez Rosa was selected as the utility player on the season-ending Eastern League All-Star Team. The team is voted on by Eastern League managers, coaches and media.

Sisco leads the team and is fifth in the Eastern League with a .309 batting average. The 21-year-old also leads the league with a .401 OBP was recently rated by Eastern League managers as having the best strike-zone judgement in the annual Baseball America Best Tools survey. The Orioles' No. 2 prospect participated in both the All-Star Futures Game in San Diego and the Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron.

Rosa has enjoyed his best pro season during his fourth year with the Baysox. While starting at six different positions, the 26-year-old has hit .304 with 18 doubles and a team-leading 61 RBIs. Recently, Rosa broke franchise records held by catcher Caleb Joseph for career hits (477) and games played (457).

Single-A Frederick's Aderlin Rodriguez has been named to the Carolina League's postseason All-Star Team. He was also named a midseason All-Star. In addition to Saturday's announcement, Rodriguez has twice been named the Orioles minor league Player of the Month and was honored as the Carolina League Player of the Month for July.

Rodriguez, 24, is batting .305 with 24 home runs, 86 RBIs, six triples, 22 doubles and 65 runs scored in 122 games. Entering Saturday's action, the Dominican native leads the league in slugging (.530) and total bases (241), is second in home runs and hits (138), sits third in hitting and fourth in RBIs.