On another tough night of offense, O's 'pen was good again

As the Orioles continue to struggle many nights on offense, there is frustration in that. But also frustration in how, with just a few more runs, they could have several more wins.

Here are the scores of the last six O's losses dating to the first doubleheader with Seattle: 4-3, 4-2, 2-1, 1-0, 3-0 and 3-1. They have allowed just 17 runs in those six losses, which have come by 10 total runs.

I told you it would be frustrating.

But as the offense has been exactly that, the O's bullpen has been the best aspect of this team through 19 games.

And this is not a completely new development. The 2019 Orioles had the worst bullpen in the American League by ERA, at 5.79. But the 2020 Orioles, in the shortened season, showed big improvement with a 'pen ERA of 3.90, which was seventh in the league.

And this year's club has a bullpen ERA of 3.13 after Friday night, which is sixth in the league.

I sense a trend. A good one.

Last night Orioles relievers held the opposition scoreless. It was the 11th time in 19 games that the bullpen has allowed zero or one earned run. Over the last seven games, the bullpen ERA is 0.71, and it is 1.56 the past 10 games. These guys would love to have a lead to protect. When they came on last night, the Orioles were already behind 3-1.

Right-handers Cole Sulser and Travis Lakins Sr. both have ERAs of 0.00 over a combined 12 1/3 innings. Sulser's fastball topped at 94.5 mph as he threw two scoreless innings on 22 pitches, retiring all six batters he faced. He had four swings against his four-seamer, and three whiffs. Lakins threw some nice cutters, and even struggling Shawn Armstrong pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts on 11 pitches, topping at 95 mph.

While Armstrong's ERA is 14.40, the Orioles have César Valdez out there at 0.96 with two wins and four saves. Paul Fry has eight consecutive scoreless outings and a 1.23 ERA. Adam Plutko's is 1.64 and Tanner Scott is at 2.57.

So yeah, pretty good.

But partly because they have been this good, the frustration is there because the club is now 1-9 when scoring three or fewer and 7-2 when getting four runs or more. That's a nice record when scoring just four runs, but they have only done that in 47 percent of the games.

Somehow, O's hitters are going to have to cut down on chasing pitches. Easy for anyone to say from their couch, harder to do between the lines. But they've got to improve here. Somehow, they have to zone in on middle-of-the-plate pitches only early in the count and lay off anything heading for a corner of the plate. Again, easy to say this from the press box or stands.

The A's have now won 12 in a row. And this is a club that began the year at 0-6. They have outscored their opponents 74-34 during the streak and hit 23 homers in the 12 games. Oakland is 10-1 when scoring first and now is 7-0 in games decided by three runs or fewer.

Houston was the last big league team to win 12 in a row, from June 6 to June 18, 2018. This is the third longest win streak in Oakland history, behind a 14-game run in 1988 and the 20-game streak during the 2002 season, which was featured in the opening scene of the "Moneyball" movie.

The search for runs and wins continues tonight at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.