O's game blog: Jimenez on mound for series opener against Texas

After losing their first American League East series since April 11-13, the Orioles get back at it tonight, hosting Texas in a four-game series at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 3-4 on this 11-game homestand and 19-21 at home on the season. They begin the second half of the season tonight with a record of 42-39 and 1 1/2 games out in both the AL East and wild card race. Chris Davis will make his 67th career big league start at third base as Manny Machado begins serving his suspension. Davis' last start at third was for the Orioles at home against Boston on Sept. 28, 2011. He made 17 starts at third that year for the club after his trade from Texas. The Orioles have struggled to get the clutch hit on this homestand. They went 5-for-29 (.172) batting with runners in scoring position in the Tampa Bay series and are 10-for-56 (.179) on the homestand with RISP. The pitching matchup tonight features Ubaldo Jimenez (2-8, 4.70 ERA) against former Orioles lefty Joe Saunders (0-4, 5.19). Jimenez has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his last six starts, but remains winless at home, going 0-6 with an ERA of 6.28. The Orioles are 1-7 in his eight home starts and 4-12 in his 16 starts for the season. Jimenez has an ERA of 10.55 in five day games and an ERA of 2.84 in 10 night games. With the Orioles this year, his strikeout rate is down from last season and his walk rate is up. Last year, he averaged 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings and now that figure is 7.9. His walk rate increased from 3.9 to 5.4 per nine. Saunders has struggled in his last two starts, going 8 2/3 innings, giving up 17 hits and 13 runs. Opponents are batting .436 against him in those two games. Former Orioles general manager Frank Cashen died today at age 88. He passed away in Easton, Md., following a short illness. Former Orioles owner Jerrold Hoffberger named Cashen as the club's executive vice president late in 1965 after he bought controlling interest in the team. Cashen worked with Harry Dalton, the director of player personnel, to build the Orioles into a dominant franchise - a franchise that won four AL pennants and two World Series championships in his first six years between 1966-71. He was one of the most important people in franchise history and the Orioles issued this statement this afternoon: "The Orioles were saddened to learn today of the passing of Frank Cashen. Frank served the Orioles as Executive Vice President from 1965 to 1975 during the team's most successful on-field era, winning two World Series championships, four American League pennants, and five AL East titles. "It was during his tenure that the Orioles acquired Frank Robinson and named Earl Weaver manager, two of the most significant moments in club history. His record of success with the Orioles earned him the Herbert Armstrong Award in 1999, recognizing his contributions to the Orioles, the community and the sport of baseball. "The Orioles organization extends its sympathies to his wife, Jean, their seven children, and many grandchildren."