O's game blog: It's Ubaldo Jimenez against Jacob deGrom at Citi Field tonight

The Orioles have a .500 record (12-12) for the eighth time already this year. But that will end at least for one day after tonight's game, the second of their brief two-game series at Citi Field against the New York Mets.

Bartolo Colon gave up just one run over 7 2/3 innings last night, pitching the Mets to a 3-2 win. It was just the second loss in the last seven games for the Orioles, who fell to 2-7 in series-opening games.

After getting swept by the Mets in 2010 and again in 2012, the Orioles have now lost seven in a row against New York since their last victory on June 18, 2009. They have lost five in a row in New York.

Bud Norris gave up three runs over seven innings last night and that is the seventh straight quality start by the rotation. The starters' ERA is 2.19 in that stretch and even better, at 1.82, over the past five games.

Meanwhile the O's bullpen has not been scored in over the last five games and 9 1/3 innings.

On the mound tonight Ubaldo Jimenez (2-1, 1.59 ERA) pitches against 26-year-old right-hander Jacob deGrom (2-3, 3.34 ERA), the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year.

Jimenez has been outstanding in 2015, allowing no earned runs in three of his four starts and three hits or less three times. American League batters are hitting just .133 against him.

deGrom went 2-1 with an ERA of 0.93 his first three starts, but is 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA his last two starts against the Yankees and Nationals.

deGrom is 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA in three Citi Field start this year and is 7-4 with a 1.65 ERA in his career at the ballpark.

Note to readers: I am at Bowie tonight covering the Baysox game and will be posting an entry later from here. But as you comment on the O's game tonight, continue to do so here in this blog entry. If you want to ask about the Baysox or the minors, go to that Bowie entry. After the game there will not be the usual Orioles postgame wrap-up tonight so stay here after the O's game to continue with your comments and thanks for keeping it all straight.