Orioles not pitching in at the plate

Orioles pitchers are 0-for-9 at the plate with eight strikeouts in interleague games this year, which might seem like an obvious failing except that they were 9-for-22 (.409) last season, setting American League single-season records for most hits and highest batting average by pitchers in interleague competition. Wei-Yin Chen has struck out in both of his at-bats this season, and that's an obvious failing. He'll be the first to admit, through his interpreter, that he's a bad hitter. He had to bat in Japan, and he never caught on to it. Chen is 2-2 with a 4.81 ERA in his six road starts and has completed six innings just twice: April 22 at Los Angeles and June 6 at Boston. Tonight's starter, Jason Hammel, is 4-0 with one no-decision when recording seven or more strikeouts. The only AL pitchers with more than five games with seven strikeouts are Brandon Morrow, Felix Doubront, James Shields, Yu Darvish, CC Sabathia, Max Scherzer, Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander. The Orioles are 14-20 against the Braves and have lost eight of their last 10 games at Turner Field. The Orioles have lost eight of their last 11 games on the road after going 15-5 in their first 20 games away from Camden Yards. Chris Davis is batting .375 (9-for-24) with two doubles, three homers, eight RBIs and eight runs scored in his last six interleague games. In his last 22 games, Davis is batting .349 (30-for-86) with four doubles, seven homers and 16 RBIs. Wilson Betemit has five hits in his last six at-bats after recording 36 hits in his first 166 at-bats. In 23 games since May 4, Mark Reynolds is batting .333 (25-for-75) with eight doubles, five homers, 15 RBIs, 17 walks and 17 runs scored. The Orioles' bullpen leads the majors with a 2.38 ERA and 14 wins.