With Britton and O'Day out, Brach and Bleier come up big for the 'pen

Manny Machado has been the best player on the Orioles this year. There is little debate over that one. But left-hander Richard Bleier has been the best Orioles pitcher, and there probably isn't much debate there, either.

He pitched two scoreless last night when called on during the seventh inning of a 3-3 tie. He got two double plays and all six outs on grounders. He got the win against the Royals and is now 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA.

Bleier has allowed one run in 22 2/3 innings for the season, and he gave up that run on April 2 at Houston. Since then he has thrown 19 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings over 14 games. Last night was the fourth time this year he's been called on to throw two or more innings.

Bleier has allowed a .286 average versus lefty batters, but just a .178 average against right-handers. When he has pitched with a runner or runners in scoring position, he has allowed an .045 (1-for-22) average.

So yeah, he is having a special season.

Meanwhile, Brad Brach's season has sure had its ups and downs. Last night was a high point, as he recorded a save. The ninth began with a walk and an error. Such a scenario in some of his previous outings led to big problems and losses. But this time he got a lineout and two strikeouts to wrap up a 5-3 win over the Royals that ended a seven-game losing streak.

The Orioles bullpen is now without both Zach Britton and Darren O'Day, who are both on the disabled list. So Brach is likely next man up to close games.

"Honestly, I don't really know right now," he said last night about the closer situation. "We haven't had too many opportunities. I'm just ready to go anywhere from the fifth to the ninth. I've said this in years past, but it is really the case right now. Just trying to find myself and get out there whenever he calls me. Happy I was able to lock down the win for the team."

And that his manager will still give him the ball in the ninth.

"Shows a lot confidence, and that is always great to have from your manager. I'd like to think that I've shown him over the last four years that I'm capable of doing it. Really glad he's giving me the chance, and I just want to secure the win for the team when I get a chance," Brach said.

Now the bullpen, after a solid night on Wednesday, will try to do it again without both Britton and O'Day. Brach is confident the 'pen will be fine even without that pair.

"Yeah, definitely. Any guy that Buck (Showalter) puts down there is fully capable. He's not going to put someone down there that is not capable of getting the job done. Hopefully, Darren is a short stint here. But we know, as a bullpen, we have to start pitching better as a whole, and tonight was a step in the right direction. Bleier is having a great year, which is exciting to see. He got those six outs and got the ball to me tonight, and I was able to finish the job."

Tonight the Orioles will try to win two straight for just the second time this year. They won back-to-back games April 5-6 in Yankee Stadium. But they are 0-5 since when they've had the chance for a two-game winning streak.

Chris Davis hit a three-run homer last night off lefty Eric Skoglund. Davis has homered off lefties the last two nights. Against lefty pitching this year he is batting .148 (4-for-27) but three of his four hits have been homers. He is slugging .481 versus left-handed pitchers and .239 against right-handers.

Davis has homered in back-to-back games for the first time since last Aug. 23 and 25, when he homered versus Oakland and at Boston.

The Orioles win ended their fourth losing streak of the year of five or more games.

The Orioles offense has shown some signs of life in this series, with 12 runs and 23 hits in two games. The team batting average for the season is up to .226 - a season high.