O's game blog: Orioles look for a fourth straight win tonight against Atlanta

The Orioles are looking to extend their winning streak to four games tonight when they host the Atlanta Braves. The Orioles' 2-1 win in 11 innings last night improved their record to 49-49.

The O's three-game win streak followed a four-game losing streak and a stretch where they lost 15 of 20 games. The Orioles have just two win streaks this year of four or more games. They won six in a row June 7-13 and four straight June 25-28.

Matt Wieters' walk-off home run in the 11th inning gave the Orioles a 2-1 win against the Braves on Monday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Wieters has hit four game-ending home runs for the Orioles, including one in each of the last three seasons. The only other players in Orioles history to hit at least one walk-off home run in each of three or more consecutive seasons are Frank Robinson (a four-year streak, 1968-71), Brooks Robinson (four straight seasons, 1969-72) and Larry Sheets (1986-88).

On the mound tonight, it's Ubaldo Jimenez (7-6, 3.81 ERA), who will be making his 20th start of the season, facing Braves' right-hander Julio Teheran (6-5, 4.49 ERA), who has made 20 starts.

Jimenez had not allowed more than four runs in any start this year and then he allowed seven in back-to-back starts to begin the second half. He is 0-2 with an ERA of 18.00. In a combined seven innings, he gave up 15 hits and 14 runs with four home runs and a .417 average against. That raised his ERA from 2.81 to 3.81.

After ending the first half with an ERA of 0.45 his last three starts, Jimenez gave up seven runs in 4 2/3 innings at Detroit. Then he gave up seven in 2 1/3 innings at New York.

But he has been very good at Camden Yards this season, going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA. He has allowed just two homers in 48 innings at home, with seven walks and 47 strikeouts.

The 24-year-old Teheran is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA and .220 average against in four July starts. But he has pitched much better at home than on the road.

Teheran at home: 5-1 with 2.37 ERA and .201 average against
Teheran on road: 1-4 with 6.95 ERA and .333 average against

Triple-A Norfolk Tides hitting coach Sean Berry will serve as a hitting coach for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. The AFL season begins on Tuesday, October 13. Peoria will feature players from the Orioles, Reds, Braves, Padres and Mariners. The players on the team have not been announced yet.

Single-A Frederick has put shortstop Adrian Marin on the seven-day disabled list. In 91 games this year, he has hit .231 with 17 doubles, four triples, two homers and 32 RBIs. Frederick began today at 17-15 in the second half, leading its division by one game in the Carolina League.

One last note on tonight's O's lineup: Nolan Reimold is not in it. This comes while he has gone 5-for-7 over the last two games, with two doubles, two walks and two RBIs. He raised his average from .211 to .266, but is not starting tonight against the right-hander Teheran.