O's game blog: Orioles try to even series (O's trounced, 12-4)

The Orioles have been either tied for or alone in first place every day of the 2017 season. But a loss today at Yankee Stadium would end that streak. The Orioles and Yankees begin today tied atop the American League East at 14-7, both 2 ½ games ahead of the Red Sox and 3 1/2 up on the Rays.

We'll soon find out if the Orioles bounce back from blowing a 9-1 lead and losing last night. It was the first time the Orioles had ever blown an eight-run lead in a loss to the Yankees. According to "O's Xtra" pregame today on MASN, the Orioles had never before blown a lead of eight runs or more in the sixth inning or later.

The Orioles are 12-6 versus the AL East, 2-2 against the Yankees, 6-4 in road games and 9-3 when their opponent starts a right-hander, as the Yankees will today.

The Orioles are going to need to win the next two days to remain the major leagues' only team without a 2017 series loss. They are 6-0-1.

New York is 9-1 at home and 8-4 versus the AL East. They are 13-3 since a 1-4 start, their best 16-game stretch since going 13-3 July 8-July 28, 2015. The Yankees' +38 run differential leads the majors, with the Washington Nationals next best at +32.

Mark Trumbo's grand slam last night ended several droughts for the slugger. He had gone 0-for-20 his previous five games, without an RBI for the last 13 games and without a home run since opening day, going 19 games between longballs.

Trumbo now has 16 home runs in 50 regular-season games against the Yankees. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is tied with Tino Martinez and Mo Vaughn for the fifth-most home runs over a player's first 50 games against New York. Only Albert Belle, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Canseco and Fred Whitfield have more (each with 18).

The O's and Yankees combined for eight homers last night. In the majors, a total of 48 home runs were hit on Friday. That marked the most hit on any day this season and most on a day since 52 homers were hit on Aug. 19, 2016.

On the mound today, right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez (1-0, 5.95 ERA) makes his fifth start, while the Yankees go with right-hander Michael Pineda (2-1, 3.86 ERA) also making his fifth.

Two starts ago, Jiménez pitched 7 2/3 scoreless on two hits against the Reds. But in his three other starts he had pitched 4 1/3 or fewer innings each time. In those games, he's pitched 12 innings, allowing 18 hits and 13 runs.

Somewhat remarkably, the Orioles are 4-0 in his starts. They've won 6-5 over New York, 12-5 against Boston, 2-0 over Cincinnati and 6-3 over Tampa Bay. So he's gotten some big run support three times.

Pineda, who has recorded two quality starts, gave up three runs in five innings in his last outing versus Pittsburgh. He is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.84 in two home starts, allowing three runs over 14 2/3. He also has an excellent ratio over 23 1/3 of allowing just three walks with 29 strikeouts.

Both pitchers have made 12 career starts versus today's opponent. Jiménez is 4-5 with a 6.35 ERA and 1.684 WHIP against New York. Pineda is 4-3 with a 4.16 ERA and 1.224 WHIP against Baltimore.

O's trounced by the Yankees: Coming into this series, O's pitchers had allowed just 18 total runs over the previous eight games. But in losing the first two games of this series in the Bronx, the Orioles have given up 26 runs and nine homers.

Brett Gardner homered in the first and second innings today as the Yankees blasted the Orioles 12-4. New York moves into first place in the AL East at 15-7, one game ahead of the Orioles at 14-8. It's the first time this year the Orioles are not in first place.

O's starter Jiménez had another bad game. He allowed five hits and seven runs over 3 1/3 to fall to 1-1 with an ERA of 7.43. He has pitched 4 1/3 or fewer innings in four of his five starts. Today Gardner hit a leadoff homer against him and added a three-run shot in the second for his first multi-homer game since Sept. 12, 2015. Gardner didn't have a homer this season, over 64 at-bats, until facing Jiménez this afternoon.

Caleb Joseph hit a two-run homer off Tommy Layne in the ninth inning. Those are Joseph's first two RBIs since Sept. 11, 2015.

The Orioles have lost their first series of the year and now are 6-1-1.

On Sunday afternoon in the Bronx, Wade Miley (1-1, 2.08 ERA) pitches against left-hander Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 3.78 ERA).