Showalter on Gallardo, acquistions and 5-3 loss (updated)

The Orioles' much-maligned rotation produced three straight quality starts against the Blue Jays. Yovani Gallardo was the latest tonight, retiring the last 10 batters he faced and leaving with three runs against him, all tallied in the first inning.

It must have been the consolation prize.

The Orioles dropped two of the three games, losing tonight 5-3 before 16,161 at Camden Yards. They're four games out of first place and tied with the Tigers for the second wild card spot.

May their off day on Thursday be more productive.

Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer off Roberto Osuna with two outs in the ninth, but the Orioles (72-61) dropped their fifth straight series against a division opponent.

Gallardo was burned by home runs from Jose Bautista and Russell Martin in the first. Bautista connected on the first pitch.

Gallardo has surrendered 17 runs this season in the opening inning.

"I look more at the body of work," said manager Buck Showalter. "If you told me coming in that he would have held them to three over six (innings), I'd have liked our chances. We didn't really score a lot of runs all three games and that's really a tribute to their starting pitching as much as anything. But no, that happens with a lot of pitchers.

"I know it's easy for everybody to think just because they pitch for a living every fifth day ... but that's why guys take a pitch or two, to get into it a little bit. But unfortunately, some of their best hitters obviously like every team are at the top of the order."

The Jays hit into double plays to end the second and third innings, the latter starting Gallardo on his efficiency streak. He was charged with three runs and five hits in six innings, with two walks, three strikeouts and a wild pitch. Gallardo threw 102 pitches, 55 for strikes.

Much better than his last start, when he retired only four batters in New York.

Gallardo didn't allow a baserunner after plate umpire Jerry Layne was hit on the mask by an Aaron Sanchez pitch in the third inning and replaced by Alan Porter following a lengthy delay.

"He pitched well I thought for the most part," Showalter said. "Gave us a chance to win. Really got better as the game went on. Actually, the layoff with the umpire exchange seemed to, was pretty good after that.

"I was surprised Martin's ball got out. He just cleared. I wish they had hit those balls later in the game. But he and Bautista both didn't quite get all of it, but they're strong enough to carry them out. But he was good. I thought he gave us a solid chance there. They're starting pitching was tough the whole series. That's why they're leading the league in pitching."

Showalter decided to use Mychal Givens and Brad Brach with the Orioles trailing, his top set-up men while Darren O'Day is on the disabled list. And it backfired.

Devon Travis stroked an RBI double off Givens with two outs in the seventh and Michael Saunders hit a solo home run off Brach with two outs in the eighth.

It's been that kind of stretch for the Orioles, who can't come up with enough answers.

Brach was used because the Orioles are off on Thursday.

"I thought at 3-1 we'd take a good run at it, but those tack-on runs, good clubs do that and they did that," Showalter said.

Saunders has hit seven home runs off the Orioles in 15 games. I wonder if he texts Mookie Betts and Seth Smith with laughing emojis.

Sanchez allowed only an unearned run in six innings, on Josh Donaldson's fielding error in the fifth that allowed Hyun Soo Kim to score. Kim boldly went from first to third on Schoop's two-out single.

The Orioles loaded the bases on Chris Davis' third walk. With a chance at an impactful inning, one that perhaps could have reversed the outcome, Mark Trumbo flied to right field to keep the score 3-1.

"Momentum is who's pitching and how well they're pitching. That can quash that," Showalter said.

"Hyun Soo made an aggressive play there with two outs to get to third and that's why he scored on it.

Three quality starts, two losses, one proud manager.

"I was really impressed with that, really proud of them, but it's tough," Showalter said. "It's kind of frustrating. We've got some quality starting pitching and we were in them. The tack-on runs were tough."

Tougher is losing five straight series within the division. Tougher is going 13-16 in August after posting a 12-14 record in July.

"We've got a month of baseball left," Showalter said, conceding that it's troubling. "We knew August was going to be tough. Did some good things, but not as many as we would have liked.

"We've got an opportunity. A lot of baseball to be played. Anybody who sells us short doesn't get the essence of our players. That's fine. They've been doing that all year to us."

Showalter said he expects Adam Jones to be in Friday's lineup. Don't read too much into the acquisitions of outfielders Drew Stubbs and Michael Bourn.

"He was real close today," Showalter said. "I feel like we would have a real good shot, if we got him to Friday, of putting it behind us.

"Like the trade. You can't assume that and get into September and not have somebody there."

Showalter praised Bourn for his ability to play all three outfield positions and his intangibles.

"Left-handed veteran guy who knows his way around. Got a great reputation as a teammate and professional and brings some things we are in need of and have been for a while with Adam.

"I'm hoping he's ready to play Friday, but we've got to prepare for if he isn't. And Nolan (Reimold) has done a serviceable job for us, but it's a place we would like to be better at if possible. And he and Stubbs have a lot of experience there."

Note: The Orioles hit 55 home runs to tie the major league record for August after setting the June record with 56, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Update: Wade Miley will start Sunday versus the Yankees at Camden Yards.