Orioles surrender five runs in eighth and lose 6-2 (with quotes)

The game within the game unfolded again today at Camden Yards.

The Orioles score two runs in the first inning to take an early lead and everyone is left to wonder whether that's going to be sufficient. Whether Andrew Cashner can push through the middle innings while keeping them ahead and trust the bullpen with the rest.

Maybe on another day or in another season. Not this one.

The Angels scored five runs off Mychal Givens and Tanner Scott in the eighth inning, the defense again short-circuiting at critical junctures, and the Orioles lost to the Angels 6-2 before an announced crowd of 38,838 to extend their streak of futility to seven games.

Givens issued back-to-back walks with one out in the eighth and Albert Pujols doubled to right-center field to tie the game 2-2, with Danny Valencia pulling up on the ball as it hit the fence. An intentional walk loaded the bases and the go-ahead run scored against Scott when Tim Beckham fielded pinch-hitter Chris Young's ground ball, stepped on third base and hesitated before making a throw across the infield that pulled Chris Davis' foot off the bag.

Ian Kinsler reached on an infield hit to load the bases and Scott grazed Martín Maldonado's leg to force in a run. Two more scored on David Fletcher's single and an out recorded at third base finally got the Orioles back into the dugout.

It can get worse, for anyone still posing the question.

The Orioles are 23-59 overall and have lost 17 of their last 18 home games. They're 0-15 against the American League West.

Cashner allowed one run and four hits over six innings for his fourth quality start in his last five outings. He's gone exactly six innings in half of his 16 starts. But today marked the 35th time that the Orioles have been held to two runs or fewer.

Three of the Orioles' six hits and all of their scoring came in the first inning. That's a loss on most days.

Cashner retired 10 of the first 11 batters, but the Angels cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth on Justin Upton's double and a two-out single by Andrelton Simmons. A bases-loaded situation in the fifth threatened to knock Cashner out of the game - Mike Wright Jr. began to warm in the bullpen - but Upton struck out after getting ahead 3-0 in the count.

Upton fouled off a fastball, took a fastball for a strike and chased a slider out of the zone. Cashner was visibly upset with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi, swiping at the ball on catcher Caleb Joseph's return throw with the count 2-0.

In an impressive display, Cashner retired the side in order in the sixth on 13 pitches, leaving him at 105 and in position for the win. Brad Brach retired all three batters in faced in the seventh, but the Orioles fell apart in the eighth.

Givens lost for the second time in four days and is 0-6 after beginning his major league career with an 18-3 record.

Beckham, Adam Jones and Manny Machado singled in succession to give the Orioles an early lead and Valencia followed with a sacrifice fly. The Orioles have been outscored 70-42 in the first inning this season.

Machado's single was the last hit until his two-out single in the fifth - that ended the inning. Yes, it's been that kind of season.

Skaggs retired 11 in a row before walking Mark Trumbo with two outs in the fourth and Davis reached on an error, but Steve Wilkerson struck out. Jones reached on an error with two outs in the fifth and was struck on the leg by Machado's ground ball headed to right field.

Beckham singled with two outs in the seventh, prompting another pitching change from manager Mike Scioscia. Davis singled off Blake Parker with one out in the ninth for the Orioles' last hit besides the latest delivered to the gut.

Manager Buck Showalter on frustration of loss: "Yeah, when you only score two runs again you're going to have to pitch real well, which we really did for seven innings. So, I'll take that out of it. You can't ask much more of a starter than what Cash gave you on a real sticky, hot day. That's pretty draining. So, I was really impressed with him. Looked like he had a good (outing), we just couldn't get it done after that.

"It's just trying to create, from a team standpoint, trying to create some margin of error where you might go after somebody a little bit more at 4-2, 3-1, something like that. But we haven't been able to expand on our lead. We scored two in the first and that was it."

Showalter on Valencia ball: "You can ask a question about anything. There's a lot more that goes into setting up that inning, if that's what people want to dwell on. I haven't looked at it. Looked like it hit high on the wall in one of the deepest parts in the park other than center field. I don't know, I'll have to look at it. I'm more concerned about the other things that led to that situation."

Showalter on whether Beckham was looking to throw home before first: "I'm not sure. I hadn't gotten that far. I'll have to look at it. You've probably seen it multiple times where I haven't. I saw it once live. I'm not sure, I think Chris was off the bag. I'd have to look at it to be real accurate about it. You all probably know more about it than I do at this point. I will before I leave. I just haven't seen it yet. I'll probably see more.

"Looked like Timmy's got time there to step on the bag and throw to first base, just weren't able to execute it."

Showalter on whether Trout at-bat set tone in eighth: "Not necessarily. Obviously he's a really good player, one of the best in the game. You're going at and trying to be careful with a one-run lead again because we've only scored two. You try to make sure he doesn't beat you. They got some really good hitters behind him.

"If you ask Mychal, the one that probably bothered him the most was Upton's at-bat. I thought that kind of set the tone more than Trout's at-bat, because I can understand whether you're ahead or behind, trying to make a pitch that you think is your best chance to keep the ball in the park."

Givens on nine-pitch walk to Trout and walking Upton: "Creating walks is always going to be an issue for a pitcher. Facing a good hitter, try to put him away, got ahead of him but didn't get the job done."

Givens on whether 0-6 as quirky as 18-3: "It's a hard game. You're going to have times you're going to struggle a lot and you're going to have times when you're going to do well. So, right now I'm just trying to get through it. It's a long season and we still haven't gotten to the All-Star break, so just trying to grind away."