O's game blog: Alex Cobb pitches Philly series opener

PHILADELPHIA - When last seen, the Orioles were beating the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. The 8-2 win featured eight strong innings from Kevin Gausman and four home runs, two by Mark Trumbo.

That result for the Orioles (24-59) snapped a seven-game losing streak overall and 17-game skid versus American League opponents. Tonight, they begin a quick two-game series against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park.

The Orioles went 6-20 in June, but started July off with a win. Still they have lost seven of eight, 18 of 23 and 27 of their past 36 games.

Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb (2-9, 6.75 ERA) makes his 15th start tonight. Cobb's last one was another frustrating outing, considering he was coming off a start where he gave up just one run over seven innings at Atlanta. But on Wednesday versus Seattle, Cobb went 4 2/3 innings and gave up eight hits and five runs.

The start of tonight's game was delayed by rain with no start time yet provided.

It was the seventh time he has allowed five or more runs this year and third time in the last four games. He has an ERA of 8.06 over that stretch.

After the game against the Mariners, Cobb talked about being so inconsistent this year.

"It's all mechanical," he said. "Went into this game today coming from the bullpen really excited because I felt like not only did I have good stuff in the bullpen, but I was understanding why. And I get out to the game mound and it just kind of left me. Started having to battle from batter one and it eventually caught up to me.

"I've never had to think (about mechanics) before. It was more just get the ball, think about what pitch you want to throw and just execute it. This year has been a lot more about trying to figure out the mechanical side of things and when you do find it, harness it and repeat it. The inconsistency on my end - really I've never dealt with it before - but it's really unacceptable to keep going out there and having a good game and then a game where you don't give much of an opportunity for your team to win."

Cobb, who has six quality starts, went 1-2 with an ERA of 6.67 in June. Lefty batters are hitting .350 off him and right-handers are batting .312.

Starting tonight opposite Cobb is 24-year-old right-hander Zach Eflin (6-2, 3.02 ERA), who is making his 11th start. Eflin had a great June and capped it by blanking the New York Yankees on four hits over seven innings on Wednesday in a 3-0 Phillies win. He walked two, fanned six and threw 92 pitches.

In five June starts, Eflin went 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA. He did not allow a homer over 30 2/3 innings and batters hit just .218 against him over the month.

Eflin throws his 95 mph four-seam fastball about 50 percent of the time and his slider 20 percent. He was drafted No. 33 overall by the San Diego Padres in 2012. In four home starts, he is 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA. He has allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his 10 starts, including the last five in a row. Eflin has never faced the Orioles.

The Phillies (45-37) have won four of five and 11 of 17 games. They just took three of four from the Nationals and have won five of their past six series. They are 27-16 at home. Over a longer stretch of home games, they are 39-21 since late last season. The Phillies are 17-7 in one-run games and their .708 win percentage in such contests is the best in the majors. They are 6-1 in extra-inning games.

Philadelphia is in second place in the National League East, 3 1/2 games behind Atlanta and 3 1/2 games ahead of Washington. The Phillies currently hold the second NL wild card spot in a very tight race with five teams within 4 1/2 games of that spot. The Phillies are 5-4 against the American League and the Orioles are 6-9 against the NL.