O's couldn't maximize big scoring chance and lose series opener

When a team is not hitting much and they get a golden chance to put up some runs, they probably need to pounce. The Orioles didn't tonight when presented a great chance as they lost the series opener to the Oakland A's at Camden Yards.

The A's 3-1 win is their 12th in a row. Before this, the last club to win 12 in a row in the big leagues was Houston, from June 6-18, 2018.

The Orioles (8-11) fall to 1-7 at home and to 1-9 when scoring three runs or less. When they get four or more they are 7-2.

They had a chance for a big number today in the sixth inning. Oakland's starter, lefty Cole Irvin, had shut them out through five on 73 pitches and had a 3-0 lead.

But that inning started when Trey Mancini singled. So did Maikel Franco and DJ Stewart, and that loaded the bases with nobody out. But Irvin, who was confounding Baltimore batters often tonight with his changeup, threw one to strike out Ryan Mountcastle. Pedro Severino then worked the count to 2-2 and got a fastball, not a changeup. He crushed it, 111 mph on a line to left field, to score one run and keep the bases loaded.

Then Oakland called on right-hander Yusmeiro Petit, who is 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.

He inherited three runners and stranded three. No. 8 hitter Freddy Galvis, who had been 10-for-20 over his past six games, popped out. Then No. 9 hitter Ramón Urías grounded out.

The O's big chance produced just one run as they lost the series and homestand opener to Oakland.

O's starter Jorge López walked the first two batters of the A's second and both would score. He issued a leadoff homer to Ramón Laureano in the fifth as Oakland moved ahead 3-0.

More notes on the series opener:

* Mountcastle's single in the fourth snapped an 0-for-21 stretch.

* The O's fall to 1-6 when their opponent starts a left-hander.

* Oakland has outscored its opponents 74-34 during the win streak. The last A's longer win streak was when they won 14 in a row from April 23-May 9, 1988.

* Cedric Mullins went 2-for-3 versus the A's starter and 2-for-4 against left-handers, and is now 10-for-25 (.400) this year as a lefty batting against lefty pitchers.

* Mancini went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and is 7-for-18 (.389) his last five games.

* The Baltimore bullpen pitched five scoreless innings tonight. That makes tonight the sixth time in the last seven games that the 'pen has not allowed an earned run. The O's bullpen sports an ERA of 0.71 in the last seven games and 1.56 over the last 10 games.

* In their last three losses, O's pitching has allowed just seven runs.