O's game blog: Game 2 against the Yankees

The Orioles have not scored more than three runs since beating St. Louis 5-3 a week ago today in that series-opening game. Since then they have lost five of six games, scoring nine runs and the search for offense continues tonight in Baltimore.

The Orioles (14-22) host the New York Yankees (26-9) in the second game of a four-game series and seven-game homestand.

Over a longer stretch, the Orioles are still playing at or around .500 ball and in fact are 8-8 over the last 16 games. They are 11-14 their past 25 games. They are 9-8 at home and 4-3 in home games versus AL East opponents.

They produced two solo homers – both by Anthony Santander last night – when they were held to three hits in the series opener at Oriole Park. Santander homered from both sides of the plate, becoming the first Oriole to do that since he did it on Aug. 31, 2019 at Kansas City. Santander leads the Orioles with six home runs. Cedric Mullins has five and Ryan Mountcastle has four homers.

The Birds were held to three hits last night, their fewest of the year and they had four each in the previous two games. They do have outfielder Austin Hays returning to the lineup tonight.

The Orioles have hit nine homers over their past seven games but their last eight homers have been solo shots.

New York won for the seventh time in eight games last night at Camden Yards and is 19-3 the past 22 games. The Yankees are 9-1-1 in 11 series, only losing one in Baltimore last month, and are 13-6 in AL East games.

Right-hander Spenser Watkins (0-1, 5.19 ERA) gets the start for the Orioles. He got hit hard last week at St. Louis, allowing seven runs and eight hits over 3 2/3 innings on 81 pitches. He has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his six starts. He had an ERA of 2.55 through four starts, but has given up 10 runs over 8 1/3 his past two.

Righty Jameson Taillon (3-1, 2.93 ERA) will make his seventh start tonight and his third against Baltimore. He has allowed two earned runs or less in all six of his starts and the Yankees are 5-1 in those games. In two outings against the Orioles, he is 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, allowing four runs and 10 hits over 9 1/3 innings.

Some minor league roster moves today:

* RHP Rico Garcia transferred from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk.

* RHP Joel Benitez has been transferred to low Single-A Delmarva from the Florida Complex League Orioles.

* RHP Angel Vargas to Delmarva from the FCL Orioles.

* RHP Kelvin LaRoche has been placed on the Delmarva Injured List.

* INF Shed Long has had his Rehab Assignment transferred to Aberdeen.

Earlier today, Delmarva beat Fredericksburg 5-3 at home as Isaac Bellony hit a two-run homer (No. 5) and Isaac De Leon hit a solo shot (No. 2).

Tonight right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (2-1, 3.09 ERA) gets the start for Norfolk at Charlotte.