Manny Machado hits game-tying homer, but O's lose at Chicago (Rowen opts out)

The Orioles scoreless streak came to an end today, but their losing streak did not. Moments after a game-tying homer in the eighth by Manny Machado, Chicago got the lead back in their half of the inning to beat the Orioles 3-2 this afternoon.

The Orioles have lost three in a row and five of six, and reach the season's midpoint at 42-39.

The Orioles went to the top of the eighth down 2-0 and had not scored a run over their last 26 innings since Wednesday night. But Sox starter Jeff Samardzija walked Ryan Flaherty with two outs and none on, and Zach Putnam came on to pitch.

Machado then crushed an 0-1 splitter into the left field seats for the 2-2 tie. It was his 17th homer of the year and the 50th of his career.

David Robertson got the save, but it truly should have gone to Sox right-fielder Avisail Garcia. He made a leaping catch over the wall in the top of the ninth to rob Chris Davis of a homer that would have tied the game at 3-3.

Bud Norris made his first relief outing today since Sept. 20, 2013, and he didn't give up a hit over 2 2/3 innings. But a leadoff walk he issued in the last of the eighth turned out to hurt the Orioles. Gordon Beckham drew the walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Darren O'Day came on and J.B. Shuck pinch-hit for Geovany Soto. He lined O'Day's first-pitch slider into right field for an RBI double and a 3-2 lead.

The Orioles did not get their first hit today until Flaherty singled with two outs in the sixth. They had a big scoring chance an inning later when Jimmy Paredes and Davis singled. With two outs, they moved to second and third on a wild pitch. But they were stranded when Chris Parmelee struck out.

In the Sox's first, Jose Abreu doubled with one out and scored on a two-out single by Garcia off the glove of O's second baseman Flaherty to make it 1-0. Abreu tripled to deep right-center to lead off the fifth and scored on Melky Cabrera's sac fly. It was Cabrera's 29th RBI and a 2-0 lead.

So the Orioles have allowed six runs total the last three games, but they have scored just two in that stretch to go 0-3. They fall two games behind the first-place Yankees, who won earlier today.

In the series finale on Sunday afternoon, Miguel Gonzalez (6-5, 4.04 ERA) faces rookie left-hander Carlos Rodon (3-1, 4.07 ERA).

Rowen leaves Orioles: Right-hander Ben Rowen, who was acquired by the Orioles in a trade that sent pitcher Ryan Webb to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 9, has opted out of his O's contract. Rowen had a clause where he could opt out if not put on the Orioles' 40-man roster by July 1. While the O's clearly liked him, they were not prepared to add him to the 40-man just yet.

The 26-year-old right-hander out of Virginia Tech pitched in eight big league games with Texas last year, pitching to an ERA of 4.15 in 8 2/3 innings.

For the Orioles this season, Rowen went 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA over 26 games between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. He spent more time with Bowie, going 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 20 games. Over 27 2/3 innings, he walked three and fanned 18.

I have also heard that Bowie left-handed starting pitcher Tim Berry is being moved to the Baysox bullpen. He has struggled this year, going 2-7 with a 7.75 ERA over 15 starts. Berry is the organization's No. 7 prospect, according to Baseball America.