Ubaldo Jimenez struggles again, O's blasted in series opener

It got even worse tonight for struggling Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. He had another short outing, put his team behind four runs early in the game and didn't survive the second inning.

Jimenez allowed five runs and five hits over 1 2/3 innings as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Orioles 9-5 in front of 44,317 at Camden Yards.

On the night the Orioles honored the 50th anniversary of the 1966 world champions, the Orioles pitched nothing like that club did that October. And with Toronto's win tonight, the Orioles' lead atop the American League East is down to one game.

Jimenez, who went 12-10 with an ERA of 4.11 last season, falls to 5-9 with an ERA of 7.38. Over his past two starts, he has allowed 11 runs in 5 2/3 innings. This was the third time in his past six starts and fourth time on the year he lasted 2 1/3 or fewer innings.

Jimenez walked two without a strikeout and threw 45 pitches. After allowing two in the first, he gave up three straight singles with two runners on and one out in the second, and Mike Wright came on to replace him. Wright would allow four runs (two earned) over 4 2/3 innings.

Over the past 20 games, Orioles starting pitchers have just six quality starts and the rotation ERA is 6.84 in that time. The Orioles have somehow managed to go 11-9 over those 20 games.

The O's trailed 5-1 after two innings, 6-1 after three and 8-2 after four.

Adam Jones hit the first pitch of the last of the first for a home run to make it a 2-1 game. Jones' 429-foot blast to center was his 17th homer of the year. It was also the 210th homer of his O's career, moving him past Brady Anderson for sixth on the club's all-time list. Jonathan Schoop hit his 14th homer in the fourth inning and Mark Trumbo added an RBI single in the sixth for his 65th RBI. In the ninth, Trumbo pulled the Orioles within four runs with a two-out, two-run homer. He hit his major league-leading 27th.

Wright hit three batters, including C.J. Cron twice, while he was in the game. In the O's sixth, Schoop was hit on the top of the helmet by Cam Bedrosian. Both benches were warned as Schoop stayed in the game.

With this loss - the Orioles' sixth in eight games - they fall to 49-36 overall and to 31-14 at home. The Orioles are 6-15 versus AL West teams. Los Angeles has won four in a row to improve to 37-50.

On Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m., Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 6.10 ERA) pitches against Angels right-hander Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.28 ERA).