O's game blog: Orioles have gone a while without a double-digit hits game

The Orioles would like to snap a streak today at New York. They have now gone 13 consecutive games without one game of 10 or more hits. They continue adding on to the longest streak of the year and had nine hits last night.

During that time, the team batting average is .230.

The runs, as we know, have been scarce. The Orioles have scored three or fewer runs in five of the last seven games and in eight of the last 14, going 2-6 in those eight games. The Orioles are averaging just 3.2 runs per game the last 14 games.

This afternoon in New York, Bud Norris (6-5, 3.73 ERA) faces left-hander Vidal Nuno (1-3, 5.90 ERA). When Nuno faced the Orioles in relief on April 8 he gave up seven runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Norris, meanwhile, is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.75 in three June starts. He has given up just one run and 10 hits over 14 2/3 innings over his past two starts.

The O's have the edge on paper in the pitching matchup today and we'll see if that leads to a win.

Finally, like most of you, I was surprised that the Orioles optioned Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk. But unlike some of you, I don't see it as an outrage.

Hey, everyone, Gausman didn't lose his rotation spot. He is pitching again on Friday, just two days and maybe one game later than had been planned. And then he will be able to make his next turn. The team is simply taking advantage of the rules that allow the Orioles to add a 26th player for Friday's day-night doubleheader at home against Tampa Bay.

There is no reason to say the O's don't care about winning or they don't know what they are doing. Like you, they see how well Gausman is pitching. They are keeping him in the rotation - even if today he is not actually on their active roster. They added Brad Brach to the bullpen and Gausman will be out on the mound again real soon.

A lot of angst and hand-wringing was wasted over that decision, it seems to me.

Coming tonight: Dylan Bundy will make his second start for short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He gave up one run in five innings on Sunday at Hudson Valley. I'll be at Ripken Stadium tonight to cover that outing, so check back here and follow me on Twitter tonight for updates from Aberdeen.