O's game blog: Looking to avoid a sweep at Fenway

The Orioles will fall into a tie for fourth place in the American League East with Boston if they lose to the Red Sox tonight. They began this series three games ahead of the Red Sox in the standings. But after 8-3 and 9-1 losses, they could find themselves even with another defeat.

The Orioles (23-33) have scored one run or less nine times in the last 14 games after Wednesday's loss. The team is in an extended slump, but it wasn't always this way. It wasn't always this way even this month. In the first eight games of September, the Orioles scored 52 runs (6.5 per game), hit 15 homers, batted .302 and had a team OPS of .890. But over the last 14 games, they have scored 38 runs (2.7 per game), hit 11 homers and batted .215 with a team OPS of .601.

When the Orioles scored three runs or less - something they have done five straight games and in 11 of the last 14 - they are just 1-22.

Right-hander Alex Cobb (1-5, 4.76 ERA) will make his 10th start tonight. Cobb's last outing produced his second game throwing six innings or more and his first quality start. On Friday versus Tampa Bay, he allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, throwing a season-high 91 pitches.

Cobb has appeared in 19 career games (all starts) against the Red Sox and holds an 8-6 record with a 3.73 ERA. He last faced Boston on Aug. 22 at Oriole Park and took a no-decision after allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. Cobb also faced the Red Sox in his first start of this season on July 25 at Fenway Park, where he earned the win after allowing just one run on four hits, including a home run, with no walks and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

He owns a career record of 24-24 with a 3.69 ERA in 69 starts against AL East opponents. He's recorded 34 quality starts against AL East foes and has thrown six or more innings in 37 of 69 starts. In his career, Cobb has posted a 12-8 record and 3.66 ERA through 29 outings (28 starts) in the months of September and October.

Lefty Martín Pérez (3-4, 3.88 ERA) will make his 12th start for Boston. On the year, he's pitched 58 innings, allowing 46 hits, including seven homers. He has recorded a WHIP of 1.259, allowing 7.1 hits per nine with 4.2 walks and 6.8 strikeouts. Boston is only 3-8 in his starts. But Pérez has pitched well this month. He's 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA in four September starts.

In a 9-1 loss last night, the Orioles did outhit Boston 11-10. Outfielder Austin Hays went 3-for-4 with a home run and is now hitting .371 (13-for-35) with a .421 OBP in 10 games since returning from the injured list on Sept. 14. Hays is 9-for-19 in his last five games.

Infielder Pat Valaika went 3-for-4 Wednesday and is now batting .298 (17-for-57) with five extra-base hits in 20 games during September. Ryan Mountcastle also went 3-for-4, has now reached base safely in 22 of his first 31 games and is batting .330 (36-for-109) with 12 multi-hit games.

At 10-13 (.435), the O's own the sixth-best road record in the AL and their road record ranks 16th-best in the majors. O's hitters rank first in the AL and third in the majors with a .267 team batting average on the road. The Orioles are third in the AL and ninth in the majors with a .746 team OPS on the road. O's pitchers own a 4.67 ERA in 23 games on the road this season to rank seventh in the AL and 16th in the majors.