Orioles swept by Brewers to fall four games below .500

MILWAUKEE - The bases are loaded and the rookie pitcher is due up with his first major league at-bat. The rookie first baseman smokes a line drive up the middle with two on and two outs, and the second baseman, scrambling to get back in position, knocks it down with his chest and records the out.

The shortstop makes a diving attempt, the ball deflects off his glove and rolls into shallow left field, and a runner scores all the way from second base. The opponent's third baseman lifts a fly ball to left field that hangs in the air like a stench and drops an inch inside the line for a double, and he scores with two outs on an error by the Platinum Glove-winning third baseman.

If the Orioles caught a break, it would cut them like shards of glass.

They failed again tonight to take advantage of early scoring opportunities, whatever the circumstances, and a 4-0 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park completed the sweep and left them a season-worst four games below .500.

Jayson Aquino was charged with three earned runs and four total in 5 1/3 innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts. He came out after 77 pitches, 56 for strikes.

The Orioles (40-44) scored three runs in the series and have tallied three or fewer in seven of their last nine games. They were shut out for the sixth time and have lost five of their last six games.

Closer Zach Britton made his first appearance since May 4 and tossed a scoreless seventh inning, with one hit allowed, one walk and a wild pitch. He threw 19 pitches and threw a scare into the Orioles when he took a line drive off his glove against Orlando Arcia, the first batter he faced. Britton paced behind the mound and shook his right hand, but convinced assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel that he was fine.

Unfortunately for the Orioles, there was no save situation to debate.

Aquino's first major league trip to the plate came with the bases loaded in the second, just as a struggling team would draw it up. Naturally, it went as expected.

Mark Trumbo led off with a double, Trey Mancini reached on an infield hit and Welington Castillo walked. Rubén Tejada was called out on strikes, the pitch appearing outside, and the Orioles pretty much were doomed.

Aquino struck out on three pitches, Seth Smith flied to right field and the game remained scoreless.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, the Orioles still don't have a hit in 11 plate appearances with the bases loaded and no outs.

The Brewers immediately took advantage with an unearned run in the bottom of the second.

Shaw led off with his double and scored with two outs when Manny Machado failed to backhand Keon Broxton's bouncer near the line. Machado lifted his glove, but the ball didn't follow.

Aquino appeared to pick off Broxton, but the Orioles again failed to execute a rundown. Broxton avoided Trey Mancini's tag and beat the throw back to the bag.

When it rains ... they close the roof here. But it still would pour on the Orioles.

The Orioles couldn't convert in the third after Adam Jones singled with two outs and Trumbo walked. Mancini's line drive appeared to be placed in an ideal spot with the second baseman breaking to cover the bag, but Jonathan Villar made a chest save, retrieved the ball and recorded the out on a close play at first.

Six of 15 batters had reached against Matt Garza and no one scored. He settled down and retired 11 of 12 batters before exiting.

Garza hadn't made a start with no runs - earned or unearned - since June 19, 2016 at Dodger Stadium.

The Brewers increased their lead to 2-0 in the fourth on Ryan Braun's leadoff double and Domingo Santana's grounder with one out that glanced off Tejada's glove as he made a diving attempt. Braun never broke stride, undaunted by Seth Smith's arm, and easily beat the throw.

Broxton homered with two outs and the Orioles were behind 4-0, an all-too-familiar spot for them.

Aquino threw only 11 pitches in the inning while facing six batters, recording a strikeout to end it. Milwaukee came out swinging.

Manager Buck Showalter went to his bullpen after Aquino struck out Shaw to open the sixth. In his two starts, Aquino has allowed five earned runs and six total in 11 1/3 innings, with 11 hits, three walks and nine strikeouts.

Castillo was batting .317 when he returned to the disabled list retroactive to May 31, but he's gone 11-for-66 with 23 strikeouts to lower his average to .263.

"I don't think he's seeing the ball real well, especially the breaking ball," Showalter said. "You can tell he's committing real early. If you look at his track record over his career, he'll have some good spurts and he'll get back up there. He's a pretty good hitter for a long time statistically. It hasn't been there for him since this last little (stint) on the DL."