Orioles swept in doubleheader with 5-2 loss in Game 2

The sixth doubleheader of the season for the Orioles resulted in the third sweep against them. Two more losses to toss on the pile.

The Orioles have grown accustomed to peering through the defeats to find positive strands. It's one way to maintain their sanity and stay optimistic as the worst season in franchise history sputters to a stop.

Rookie Yefry Ramírez made his 13th major league start and 18th appearance tonight in Game 2 and he offered quality by baseball's long-standing definition. He allowed three runs over six innings, but a bases-loaded walk in the fourth broke a tie and the Astros won 5-2 before an announced single-admission crowd of 26,020 at Camden Yards.

Ramírez served up home runs to Myles Straw in the first inning - his first in the majors - and Brian McCann in the sixth, and the Orioles fell to 46-115 overall, 27-53 at home, 6-26 against the American League West and 0-6 versus the Astros.

Jake Marisnick lined a two-run homer off Mike Wright Jr. in the eighth after the Orioles reduced the lead to 3-2. Wright recorded the first two outs, gave up a single to McCann, got ahead of Marisnick 1-2 and watched a 94 mph fastball disappear into the left field seats.

Austin Wynns singled in the second inning to tie the score 1-1, but he was caught in a rundown for the second out and the Orioles stranded John Andreoli at third base.

Singles by Cedric Mullins and Adam Jones in the third were sandwiched around Jonathan Villar's double play grounder. Trey Mancini hit into a double play in the sixth after Jones walked.

The Orioles loaded the bases against Framber Valdez with one out in the seventh. Lance McCullers Jr. replaced him, the Orioles sent up Corban Joseph to bat for Steve Wilkerson and a wild pitch reduced the lead to 3-2.

Joseph struck out and Mullins grounded out.

With the upcoming playoffs in mind, Astros manager A.J. Hinch pulled left-hander Dallas Keuchel after only three innings and used five relievers.

Ramírez threw a career-high 107 pitches on the penultimate day of the season, which ends with his ERA at 5.92 in 65 1/3 innings. The Orioles are intrigued with the idea of having him serve in a long relief-type role, but remain more inclined to develop him as a starter.

They can always switch back to the bullpen.

The bases-loaded walk came with the score tied 1-1 and after Ramírez induced a pop up from McCann for the second out.

Jones reached base three times on two singles and a walk. Fans were chanting "Ad-am, Ad-am" as he batted in the sixth inning.