O's game blog: O's begin weekend series hosting Boston

After losing the last night two nights to Toronto, the Orioles' homestand continues tonight. They host the Boston Red Sox in the start of a three-game series.

O's pitchers allowed just 17 runs in six games through Tuesday's game and then gave up 20 runs the past two games. During the six-game run, their starters had an ERA of 2.83 and that has been 7.00 the past two nights. The O's bullpen has allowed 13 earned runs over nine innings the last two games.

At 21-47, the Orioles have lost six of eight, 10 of 14 and 18 of their last 24 games. They lost the series to Toronto to fall to 0-13-1 in the last 14 series since beating the Chicago White Sox two of three from April 22-24. The Orioles are 10-20 versus the American League East and 3-12 at home in division games.

Baltimore's Anthony Santander tied a career high with three hits last night. It's the fifth time he's done so and was the second time in three games. In the series with Toronto, he went 6-for-12 with a double and three RBIs. He's batting .385/.467/.577 in seven games.

Catcher Chance Sisco slugged his second home run of the season, a two-out solo shot in the eighth inning last night. He went 4-for-11 against Toronto with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs. Since he was called up, Sisco is batting .273/.407/.682 in seven games.

The O's have recalled right-hander Luis Ortiz to start tonight and make his first major league appearance of the year. This season with Triple-A Norfolk, he is 2-6 with a 7.01 ERA. This will be his second major league start and third career appearance. He was acquired by the club from Milwaukee as part of the trade that sent Jonathan Schoop to the Brewers last July 31.

Boston will start former O's farmhand Eduardo Rodriguez (6-4, 5.00 ERA), who will be making his 14th start. In his last outing, the left-hander went 5 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay, allowing seven hits and four runs. The Red Sox are 9-4 in his starts and he has five quality starts.

Rodriguez beat the Orioles on April 12, allowing three hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings. In five games (three starts) in 2018, Rodriguez was outstanding against the Orioles at 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA, along with 24 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings. In his career in 16 games (14 starts), he is 7-5 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.180 WHIP and has averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

At 36-34, Boston is in third in the division, 6 1/2 back of AL East-leading New York. The Red Sox have won their last two following a three-game losing streak. Boston is 3-5 in its last eight, following a four-game winning streak from June 2-6. The Sox went 11-2 from April 29 through May 12, but are 14-15 since.

Boston is beginning a six-game road trip tonight. They have a four-game road win streak. And Boston is 16-7 (.696) away from Fenway Park since April 19, the majors' best road record in that time.

It's opening night: The Orioles' short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds squad opens a new season tonight, hosting Hudson Valley at Ripken Stadium to start a new year in the New York-Penn League.

Here is the IronBirds starting lineup tonight with right-hander Ryan Conroy, a 2018 eighth-round draft pick, getting the start.

SS Clay Fisher
2B Jean Carmona
RF Robert Neustrom
LF Edison Lantigua
C Cody Roberts
DH Joey Ortiz
1B Alex Murphy
CF Trey Truitt
3B Irving Ortega

The club currently has three draft picks from this year's draft with likely more to come, maybe many more. They are Ortiz (round 4), Johnny Rizer (round 7) and Toby Welk (round 21).

The Orioles have moved right-hander Pedro Araujo from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. He was 1-2 with a 3.58 ERA for the Baysox, throwing six scoreless innings his past three games.

And the push to get Trey Mancini to the All-Star game remains on.

Why #VoteTrey?

He's the MANcini for the job.

Vote @TreyMancini for 2019 @MLB All-Star: https://t.co/fXBtK5871H pic.twitter.com/tkmwpTnG2i

-- Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 14, 2019