Trying to find something to build on after a brutal loss

DETROIT - If you were managing the Orioles right now and your team was so desperate for wins, taking some positives from a brutal loss would probably not be a bad strategy.

Buck Showalter was looking to at least do some of that after Wednesday's 6-5 walk-off loss at Comerica Park. The Orioles came back with late offense, but so did Detroit.

Backup catcher John Hicks hit a three-run homer off Darren O'Day in the eighth for the Tigers, and Dixon Machado hit a walk-off homer off Pedro Araujo in the ninth. The O's bullpen gave up two late home runs.

But Showalter was encouraged by right-hander Kevin Gausman's outing, his team's late offense, an impressive pinch-hit homer and a big hit from Chris Davis.

Maybe the Orioles have something to build on as they try to avoid a winless road trip this afternoon in Detroit.

"I hope so," Showalter said, after his club fell to 5-13 and 0-5 on this trip. "That type of pitching effort, Darren's been rock-solid for us. I try to dwell on the real positive things, even though the end game is that we lost. I was really impressed the way Richard (Bleier) and (Miguel) Castro wriggled out of that jam. That was a real momentum swing for us, I thought. We just couldn't get that eighth inning done."

With the Orioles trailing 5-4 in the ninth and facing Detroit closer Shane Greene, they got a very unlikely homer.

It came from Luis Sardiñas. Batting for Caleb Joseph, who is a 1-for-25 slump, Sardiñas drilled a 2-2 breaking pitch out to right for his fifth major league homer in his 485th career plate appearance.

"He's not a huge split guy, but he's a little bit better left-handed," Showalter said. "Maybe that's the type of thing that could [get him going]. We need somebody to fill that role. He's always had a pretty good track record of hitting, especially left-handed."

Danny Valencia had homered earlier in the game and the Orioles produced just their fourth multi-homer game of 2018. Coming into Wednesday's contest, they had hit just three homers the previous seven games.

The club's most recent pinch-hit homer before Sardiñas' was hit by Trey Mancini against Pittsburgh on June 7, 2017.

With Boston off to a 15-2 start, the Orioles have now fallen 10 1/2 games out of first place after just 18 games. They're now tied for last place with Tampa Bay. O'Day sees plenty of effort from the Orioles right now, but they keep coming up short in terms of wins.

"It's kind of a results-based game," O'Day said. "Can't get too far behind. We just have to play better. We know we have the talent, so we just have to play better. There have been flashes of it. It seems like when we pitch, we don't hit. We've just got to put it together. Today was a nice game to battle back. And then I could have put a zero up there, see Brad (Brach) in the ninth, or whoever, and we'd have been going home and dinner would taste good tonight. We'll break out of it, no question. There is just too much talent here."

Orioles pitchers have allowed 30 runs in the five games on this trip. But the last three starting pitchers - Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner and Gausman - have allowed eight runs (six earned) over 17 2/3 innings for a 3.06 ERA.

Remember when the biggest concern over this season was starting pitching?

Through Tuesday's game, the Orioles had seven quality starts, putting them in a tie for fourth in the American League. Then Gausman made it eight, but the Orioles are 3-5 in the eight games.

Gausman, by the way, had a different look to his windup in Detroit. Previously, his compact delivery included him keeping his hands right in front of his face as he went through his motion. But yesterday he took his hands above and behind his head during his windup.

It is not like Gausman had been pitching poorly. He had allowed five runs in 11 innings his past two starts. But he threw well versus the Tigers, allowing no walks and two runs over six innings. He seemed to get some real life on his fastball in the middle innings.

Just how did Gausman come to find his new delivery?

"I was doing my dry throws (Tuesday) and started messing around with it, and it felt really good. Felt like I was landing in the same spot every time and like I was really reaching toward home plate. I told Roger (McDowell, O's pitching coach) I was going to do it and he kinda challenged me and said, 'No you're not,' and whenever someone challenges me I'm probably going to do it even more. So, it was good.

"Obviously, couple times I hit my hat on the way up so I need to figure that out, but I think it will come with reps. It's definitely something I can build on."

Added Showalter: "I think Kevin, I'm not broadcasting that he's trying to two-seam the ball a little bit more, trying to work some balls on the ground, which he's doing, induce some weak contact. That's one of the byproducts of being around guys like Cashner, and Dylan pitches that way a lot, and I think you'll see it with (Alex) Cobb, that more is not always better. His work days are going great, he's competing and doing a lot better this time of year than he did last year. I'm proud of him."

See, something to build on, says the skipper.

Orioles pitchers did not allow a walk yesterday for the first time this season. But they did allow a season-high four homers.

The Orioles need to win this afternoon to avoid a three-game sweep. They have lost five in a row for the second time this year and are 1-7 since they left Yankee Stadium, having taken three of four in that series.