O's game blog: Birds trying to salvage a series finale

With losses by 8-1 and 6-2 scores in the first two games of the series, the Orioles need a win tonight to avoid being swept in this three-game set at Milwaukee. The Orioles have been swept three straight this year at Kansas City, Houston, in New York versus the Yankees and at home against Minnesota.

At 40-43, the Orioles have matched a season high at three games under the .500 mark and have fallen 8 1/2 games out in the American League East. Their road record is 15-27 and they have lost 16 of the last 21 away from Oriole Park.

In this series, starting pitchers Wade Miley and Ubaldo Jiménez have combined to pitch 6 2/3 innings, allowing 13 hits, 12 runs and three homers.

The Orioles began this series with an 8-4 record in 2017 versus National League teams. They've gone 2-1 versus Cincinnati, 2-2 against Washington, 2-0 versus Pittsburgh and 2-1 against St. Louis.

The Orioles offense has produced just three runs on 14 hits in this series and O's batters are 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Over the last eight games, O's batters are hitting .202 and have scored just 22 runs with six homers. They've scored three runs or less six times and two or less four times in that span.

Left-hander Jayson Aquino comes up from Triple-A to make tonight's start. He allowed one run in three of his past four starts for Norfolk. He last pitched on Saturday, working 2 1/3 innings and allowing, and left that game early to stay on a short pitch count to be available for this outing on three days' rest.

Aquino has gone 1-1 with an ERA of 9.00 in three games for the Orioles this year. He pitched well in a start April 22 against Boston. Over six innings, he gave up six hits and two runs, throwing 99 pitches.

Right-hander Matt Garza (3-4, 4.36 ERA) will make his 13th start for Milwaukee. In five starts in June, he went 1-2 with a 4.97 ERA. In seven home starts, he is 2-2 with a 4.71 ERA. Lefty batters hit .273 and right-handers .261 off Garza.