Will the O's get to Cahill?

The O's offense, one night after scoring nine runs, has a tall order tonight in taking on Trevor Cahill. The A's right-hander is 7-2, 2.88 on the season and over his last eight starts is 6-0, 2.24. So it's a hot pitcher vs. a team that has scored 48 runs during the eight games on this homestand. Cahill's winning percentage of .778 is 4th best in the AL and he is 2-1, 2.84 in three career starts vs. the Orioles. They did do something vs. Cahill that no team had done all year - score a run in the first inning vs. him Cahill entered tonight without allowing a run in the first over his first 12 starts and opponents were just 3 for 37 (.081) against him in the opening frame. The O's went 1 for 3 in the first with Corey Patterson picking up a leadoff double, advancing on a grounder and scoring on a Nick Markakis sac fly. The O's trail 3-1 with Oakland batting in the top of the fifth. Cahill has thrown just 50 pitches so far. By the way, a win tonight would give the Orioles wins in back-to-back series for the first time all year. They were 0-12-1 over the past 13 series until the sweep vs. the Nats. At 5-3, they are assured of their second winning homestand of the season. They went 4-2 on the homestand vs. the Yankees and Red Sox from April 27-May 2. From the minors: Zach Britton has pitched five scoreless innings tonight vs. Charlotte at Harbor Park in his Triple-A debut. He has allowed three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Through five, he is at 61 pitches, 40 strikes.