Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Davis comment after O's loss to Detroit

Ubaldo Jimenez has suddenly lost the form that allowed him to pitch to an ERA of 2.81 before the All-Star break. He took the loss today against Detroit, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings as the Tigers won 6-1 at Camden Yards.

He gave up just one run in 20 innings in his last three first-half starts. Now, in four games since the All-Star break, Jimenez has given up 22 runs and 25 hits in 18 2/3 innings.

In each game since the break, he has allowed first-inning runs. He gave up two at Detroit, four at New York, two on Tuesday versus Atlanta and three today to the Tigers.

"I know the first half was really good," Jimenez said. "But it's part of the game. I have to find a way to get back to that. We still have a lot of games left. I have to find a way to be doing what I was doing.

"It is always bad when you give up runs in the first inning. You're putting the team in a bad spot. The other pitcher can be comfortable on the mound because they have the lead. I have to find a way to get rid of those innings because I've been struggling with that my last three or four games."

Today in the first, Jimenez was a pitch away from a scoreless inning. But, with two on and two out, J.D. Martinez hit his 29th homer for a three-run shot on a 1-2 pitch.

"The first inning, I just left a split-finger hanging in there," Jimenez said after falling to 8-6 with a 4.04 ERA. "That was a really bad pitch, and they made me pay for it. After that, I think I was able to come back and keep throwing the sinker and getting groundballs.

"But in the fifth inning, it went the other way. Had a blooper. I think I made a couple of good pitches in that inning, but still they found a way to score."

The Orioles had a successful homestand, going 5-2, but they fell behind again early today as they lose the series finale.

"We have to keep moving forward. This road trip is one of the toughest, going to the West Coast, but we have to find a way to keep it going," Jimenez added.

On offense, the Orioles could not solve left-hander Daniel Norris today. Ranked as baseball's No. 18 prospect, he gave up just one run in 7 1/3 innings in his Detroit debut.

"He was tough," Chris Davis said. "He elevated his fastball just enough to where we really couldn't barrel him up, and he did his job."

Davis hit his 26th homer today, driving in his 72nd run. That matches his homer and RBI totals from last season. He did that then in 450 at-bats, and he has 367 now. What is the difference from last season?

"I think a lot of it is health," Davis said. "Last year I had the oblique early on, and it was something that really bothered me into the offseason. I didn't realize the impact it had on me until this year when I was able to start driving pitches to all fields like I had in previous years."

Davis has hit seven homers and knocked in 19 runs over his last 12 games. Now he and the Orioles hit the road for an important nine-game West Coast road trip. The Orioles are just 21-31 on the road this season.

"It's big," Davis said. "A few games ago, we kind of refocused and got back to doing things that made us successful. Good to have some momentum going for the West Coast."