Orioles offense gets another failing grade in loss to A's

OAKLAND - The bats have disappeared again. Gone without a trace. Missing in inaction.

Held to two runs last night, the Orioles managed only one tonight and can do no better than a split in their four-game series with the last-place Athletics after a 2-1 loss before 13,573 at Oakland Coliseum.

Wade Miley's second start with the Orioles was quality - two runs and six hits in six-plus innings - but the A's needed only their two-run third inning to take control.

Former Oriole Danny Valencia had an RBI double and Khris Davis added a sacrifice fly off Miley, who threw 99 pitches.

The Orioles did next to nothing against A's rookie Zach Neal, making only his second major league start, the other ending with seven runs and eight hits in four innings in a 13-3 loss to the Mariners.

The Orioles had one baserunner in five innings, Adam Jones leading off the fourth inning with his 22nd home run. His 1,403 hits as an Oriole tied Al Bumbry for 10th place.

Jonathan Schoop doubled to lead off the sixth and Neal was done after 5 1/3 innings. Reliever Liam Hendriks retired Jones on a pop up and Hyun Soo Kim on a comebacker, and the A's continued to lead 2-1.

One run, two hits and no walks in 5 1/3 innings. Did Neal really have a 5.25 ERA before tonight?

Hendriks retired all five batters he faced with two strikeouts. John Axford walked Schoop with two outs in the eighth, but J.J. Hardy struck out.

Even a hot bad was put on ice.

A's closer Ryan Madson notched his 24th save after Jones' leadoff single in the ninth, and the Orioles were held to three hits and beaten again by a team desperately trying to find 25 healthy players. The roster reads like a who's who, as in, "Who's that guy?"

The Orioles have scored two runs or fewer in three of their last four games and three runs or fewer in five of seven. They've also scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 15 games.

The only consolation for the Orioles came earlier when the Blue Jays lost to the Rays. They remain tied for first place in the American League East.

The Orioles are 63-49 overall and 24-32 on the road. They're sending Yovani Gallardo to the mound Wednesday night. Maybe he should hit for himself.