O's game blog: Wade Miley on the mound in series opener

OAKLAND, Calif. - New city, new series. The Orioles begin a four-game series in Oakland tonight, looking to get their offense going again and looking to start compiling some wins on this 10-game road trip.

The trip began with the Orioles losing two of three to the Angels in Anaheim. They scored just nine runs in that series and just three runs on 12 hits in the last two games.

O's pitchers allowed 10 runs and 21 hits in the series with eight walks and 28 strikeouts. O's starters gave up nine runs in 18 1/3 innings at Angel Stadium.

Over the last 12 games, the O's rotation has recorded seven quality starts with an ERA of 2.57. The rotation ERA is 3.38 the last 16 games.

Left-hander Wade Miley (5-9, 5.51 ERA) tonight will make his 24th start. After going through a 10-start stretch where he went 2-6 with a 9.69 ERA, Miley has allowed four runs in 10 innings his past two starts. That is progress, and he's gone 1-0 with an ERA of 3.60 in those games versus the Rangers and Tigers. The Orioles are 12-11 in Miley starts.

Right-hander Chris Smith (0-1, 4.82) will make his fifth start and sixth appearance for Oakland. He was called up July 8 after going 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA for Triple-A Nashville. In two home starts, Smith is 0-0 with a 3.75 ERA. He has made two career appearances, both out of the bullpen against Baltimore, allowing two runs over four innings.

The A's lost the last two days to Seattle and are 50-64 including a home record of 31-27. Oakland is 12-13 against the American League East. Oakland starting pitchers have allowed four runs or more 10 times over the last 12 games with an ERA of 7.11.