Showalter speaks after 8-6 loss

The Orioles couldn't rely on their lineup tonight to cover for the sins of their rotation.

It came pretty darn close, though.

Tyler Wilson lasted only four innings and the Orioles' winning streak ended at three games with an 8-6 loss to the Yankees before 33,170 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles bashed three more home runs in the seventh inning - Mark Trumbo's leadoff shot, Pedro Alvarez's two-run shot and Adam Jones' three-run shot. Trumbo and Alvarez connected off starter Ivan Nova and Jones greeted reliever Nick Goody.

Former Oriole Andrew Miller entered the game and retired all six batters he faced, and Aroldis Chapman struck out pinch-hitter Nolan Reimold to end the game after walking Jones.

After his home run, Alvarez was 6-for-16 with a double, two home runs and five RBIs this month. Trumbo leads the club with 18 home runs and 43 RBIs. Jones moved past Cal Ripken, Jr. for the all-time RBI lead at Camden Yards with 370.

Always better these days to stay focused on the offense.

Wilson allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings. Dylan Bundy replaced him and allowed two runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

"Just made a lot of mistakes," manager Buck Showalter said of Wilson, whose ERA rose to 4.39 in 53 1/3 innings. "Uncharacteristically up. Threw a lot of pitches. Just never ... a little flat. Never found his way. Kind of fighting his command. Unusual for him."

The rotation has posted a 10.03 ERA in the last five games and a 6.68 ERA in the last 19, with only five quality starts. Showalter doesn't buy the theory that it's producing a snowball effect among the starters.

"Not at all," he said. "I don't look at things like that. We've had some guys pitch well. Just not over a long period. We've had some really well-pitched games this year. Keep in mind, too, you're trying to develop a lot of pitchers who have less than a year in the major leagues. I think there's five or six of them. You've got Bundy, you've got him. We had three guys we weren't going to use tonight in the 'pen, so we're trying to grow up quick."

Bundy has been scored upon in five of his last six outings to raise his ERA to 4.94 in 23 2/3 innings.

"Dylan, little by little," Showalter said. "It's tough. This is a guy who hasn't really pitched out of Double-A and in the American League East, you're going to pitch, whether you're a Rule 5 or whether you're in Dylan's situation. He's going to learn from it. He's going to be good. We're going to get him some innings. He's trying to develop as a young pitcher and also trying to stay healthy, so it's two things I've got to be aware of every time we bring him in. That's why we wait until he's had two or three days off.

"He's been pretty good all year. If you go through the whole evolution, he went to fall league and the slider/cutter seemed to be the reason his elbow was ... He's pitching this year without that. That's a big pitch for him. It's something he'll probably have next year. If we get to a point this year we think physically he's in good shape, we might let him do it this year. So, now it's fastball, curveball, changeup. That was a big weapon for him.

"We get his 60, 70 innings, next spring take the governors off of him. Keep in mind where he is experience-wise and what's going on with him physically. I'm trying to help him develop and keep him healthy. Next year and hopefully at some point this year we're going to get a good return from it."

The Orioles couldn't come all the way back from their 7-0 deficit, though the home run binge in the seventh certainly made it interesting.

"We had a shot," Showalter said. "We made a great run at them. I knew we would at some point. What's Nova got, like six walks on the year? I think that's the thing that really separates him. He's got a lot of late life on his fastball. We didn't make the adjustments early to the short breaking ball until later on a little bit.

"He was good. He's having a good year statistically. You knew he was going to be a challenge, but proud we made a run at them there. You get to that part where they've got those three guys down there, it's tough. It's tough. We got the tying run to the plate again in the ninth and just couldn't quite put them away."

Showalter was surprised to learn that Jones became the all-time RBI leader at Camden Yards.

"That's impressive," he said. "He's got more than Cal? Pretty significant milestone."

Vance Worley allowed a run in the ninth after replacing Brian Duensing and is no longer a candidate to start Monday night against the Royals. Showalter said he's going to wait until after Sunday's game to make the announcement, with the assumption being that he's not sure whether he'll need T.J. McFarland or Mike Wright in relief.

The forecast for Sunday calls for severe thunderstorms and a postponement likely would push Kevin Gausman to Monday.

The Red Sox won tonight and regained possession of first place in the American League East.

Trumbo is batting .349/.404/.791 (15-for-43) in his last 11 games, with four doubles, five home runs, 12 RBIs, four walks and 10 runs scored.