O's game blog: David Hess pitches Toronto series opener

TORONTO - The Orioles managed to score just three runs in two games at Citi Field against the New York Mets, but they posted 2-1 and 1-0 wins to sweep that two-game series. Tonight, they look for their first three-game road winning streak of the 2018 season.

According to STATS, LLC., the series win was just the second in Orioles history when scoring three or fewer total runs. The Orioles also swept a two-game series from the New York Yankees from Sept. 9-10, 1970, winning 1-0 and 2-1. According to STATS, the last time the Orioles won back-to-back games without an extra-base hit was May 1, 2003, when the O's won both games of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

O's pitchers held the Mets to one run on eight hits in 18 innings in the series. Starters Alex Cobb and Dylan Bundy combined to give up just one run over 13 innings against the Mets.

Over their past seven games, O's pitchers have recorded six quality starts, pitching to an ERA of 3.32. But the club has gone just 2-4 in those games.

Right-hander David Hess (2-2, 3.47 ERA) will make his fifth major league start tonight in the series opener at Rogers Centre. Because of two rainouts and an off-day since his last game, he will be pitching on seven days' rest tonight.

On May 30, Hess allowed one run over six innings - a Bryce Harper homer - as he took a 2-0 loss to Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals. Hess gave up just four hits and threw 97 pitches.

Hess said whether he was facing Scherzer or any other pitcher, he needed the same focus and intensity. He said his first four big league starts have filled him with confidence.

"Yeah, I think that the confidence is definitely growing," he said. "I think that with every start, I get a little bit smarter, I guess, about what I need to do to have success and how to go about my business on an everyday basis. So, yeah, I think there's definitely progression with that and I'm excited that progression has come to where it is right now."

Hess has recorded three quality starts. Over his past two against the Rays and Nats, he has thrown 12 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and one run. Lefty batters are hitting .300 off Hess and right-handers are batting .204.

Toronto will start lefty Jaime García (2-4, 6.08 ERA) tonight. On June 1 versus Detroit, he pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs. Over his past three starts, he is 0-2 with an ERA of 8.03. In his 10 starts, the Blue Jays are 5-5. He has thrown 5 1/3 innings or less eight times.

García has a first-inning ERA of 2.70, but that goes up to 10.24 in the second inning of his games. García has not started versus the Orioles this year or last season. In one career start, he is 1-0 with an ERA of 8.44, allowing five runs and 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Toronto is 26-35 and has lost seven of eight and 14 of its last 18 games. The Blue Jays took two of three in Baltimore from April 9-11. The Orioles beat Toronto 12 of 19 last season and they've won the season series against Toronto in four of the past six seasons. They are 18-20 at Rogers Centre since 2014. The 2018 Blue Jays have lost 10 of their past 11 home games.

On the farm today: Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie picked up afternoon wins. The Tides won 7-4 at Columbus. Caleb Joseph went 3-for-4 with an RBI and is batting .286. Andrew Susac hit a three-run homer. Starter Asher Wojciechowski gave up two runs over five innings in a no-decision. Zach Britton pitched a scoreless sixth, allowing one hit with one strikeout. He threw just seven pitches, six for strikes.

Bowie won 7-5 at Portland as lefty Brian Gonzalez gave up two runs and six hits over six innings. He is 1-2 with an 8.10 ERA after four Double-A starts. But while he allowed 14 runs in 5 2/3 his first two starts, he has given up just three runs over 11 innings in his last two. Audry Perez hit a three-run homer. Ryan Mountcastle hit a 400-foot solo shot in a 2-for-4 and he's batting .297.