O's free fall continues with loss at Texas for 1-6 road trip

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

August 30, 2015, 1:51pm

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The Orioles' road trip ended with a thud today as they were shut out 6-0 by left-hander Derek Holland at Texas. The O's completed a 1-6 trip that leaves them with a 63-37 record and four games under .500 for the first time since they were 26-30 on June 7.

The Orioles have lost 10 of 11 games, scoring three or fewer runs in each of those losses. The Orioles scored eight runs in their one win on the trip and 12 in the six losses. They have scored just 25 runs over their past 12 losses.

He got zero run support today, but Miguel Gonzalez also pitched 5 1/3 or fewer innings for the sixth time in his last seven starts and for the 11th time in 14 outings. Gonzalez went 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs and throwing 103 pitches. He is 9-11 with an ERA of 4.85. In his past three starts, his ERA is 8.59, and it is 6.49 over his last 13 starts.

Texas took a quick 2-0 lead when its first three hitters singled to start the first inning. Then, an Adrian Beltre sac fly made it 1-0 and a Gonzalez wild pitch scored the second run. In the third, three singles with two outs and none on made it 3-0. Elvis Andrus came up with an infield hit to plate the run. The lead became 4-0 on Hanser Alberto's RBI single in the fourth. Texas made it 6-0 in the ninth off Zach Britton on a Delino DeShields single and a Steve Pearce error in left field.

Left-hander Holland, making his fourth MLB start of the season, pitched a complete-game three-hitter on 116 pitches. He walked none, fanned 11 and retired 14 in a row to end the game. He is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.82. The Orioles were shut out for the ninth time as they fall to 26-42 in road games.

The Orioles went 11-3 the last two seasons against Texas, but they went 1-6 this season. Texas (68-61) has won seven of nine and 13 of 17 games, and is 18-9 this month.

The Orioles return home Monday to start a three-game series against Tampa Bay when Wei-Yin Chen (8-6, 3.17 ERA) pitches against right-hander Chris Archer (11-10, 2.88 ERA).