Orioles piling up the runs and hits (O's win 18-2)

If you blinked today, you didn't miss the bottom of the fifth inning. It lasted an eternity.

The Orioles reached season highs with nine runs and 10 hits to take a commanding 15-2 lead over the Athletics at Camden Yards. And they scored twice in the sixth on Caleb Joseph's home run to go ahead 17-2.

Joseph has a career-high four RBIs. The Orioles have a season-high 22 hits - the previous high was 20 - and we're still in the sixth.

They sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth. Jonathan Schoop made the last out, but it required a diving catch by shortstop Marcus Semien, who earlier ran into left fielder Coco Crisp, resulting in a two-run double for Manny Machado.

Gerardo Parra led off the inning with a single and produced an RBI double after Machado reached. He's 5-for-5 today and a triple short of the cycle. The five hits match his career high. He's done it three times.

Reliever Dan Otero was charged with eight runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. That's o-terrible. Closer Edward Mujica replaced him in the fifth, a different kind of save situation.

He blew it. Adam Jones hit his second home run of the day into the Orioles bullpen, a two-run shot that completed the scoring, but not the barrage of hits. Chris Davis followed with his second single of the inning.

Jones also had two hits in the inning, including a single. Jones (22), Davis (34) and Machado (25) have combined for 81 home runs this season.

Jones has eight multi-home run games in his career. The Orioles have produced 11 this season.

Steve Clevenger had an RBI grounder in the fifth and is 3-for-4 today, matching his career high in hits. Henry Urrutia had a two-run single in the fifth for his first multi-RBI game in the majors. He had two RBIs before today, on July 20 and 22, 2013.

J.J. Hardy is the only starter without a hit. He's struck out twice and grounded out.

The Orioles' record for runs in an inning is 12 on April 11, 2002. The day hasn't been a total success. They fell short.

Wei-Yin Chen, who probably forgot that he was starting, allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings as he attempts to move his record above .500 for the first time this season. He's walked none and struck out seven.

Chen threw 117 pitches. Brian Matusz has been warming in the bullpen.

A's manager Bob Melvin has been fuming in the dugout.

Update: Urrutia robbed Danny Valencia of a 2-run homer in the top of the seventh and had an RBI single in the bottom half to increase the lead to 18-2.

The 25 hits are one short of the club record set on Aug. 28,1980 versus the Angels.

Clevenger has a career high four hits.

Ryan Flaherty replaced Hardy and struck out. His 0-for-34 streak is the longest by an Oriole since 1974, according to STATS. Cal Ripken was 0-for-33 in 2001.

Jason Garcia retired the side in order in the eighth.

Update II: The Orioles matched their team record for hits with 26 in an 18-2 win over the Athletics before 28,228 at Camden Yards.

Jimmy Paredes, in his only at-bat, doubled off first baseman Ike Davis - you read that correctly - with one out in the eighth. Garcia, batting in the cleanup spot, walked on four pitches, but Davis struck out Schoop and retired Clevenger on a fly ball. He also was the only "pitcher" today to retire Parra, who lined to left.

Chen (7-6) is above .500 for the first time this season and the Orioles (60-56) are four above for the first time since July 5.

AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson was here today, pumping his fist and singing along to "Thunderstruck" before the top of the ninth. Too bad Zach Britton didn't pitch.