masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgHOUSTON – A hot starter and cold bats remain a toxic mix for the Orioles.

It’s their starter and their bats.

Miguel Gonzalez didn’t allow a hit until one out in the sixth. He carried a shutout into the seventh. Now, he stands to be the loser.

Once again, the Orioles aren’t on the same page. They aren’t firing on all cylinders. Pick your favorite metaphor.

Gonzalez gave up three doubles in the seventh, including back-to-back two-baggers from Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar that…HOUSTON – A hot starter and cold bats remain a toxic mix for the Orioles.

It’s their starter and their bats.

Miguel Gonzalez didn’t allow a hit until one out in the sixth. He carried a shutout into the seventh. Now, he stands to be the loser.

Once again, the Orioles aren’t on the same page. They aren’t firing on all cylinders. Pick your favorite metaphor.

Gonzalez gave up three doubles in the seventh, including back-to-back two-baggers from Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar that gave Houston a 2-1 lead.

Grossman, batting .141 before tonight, tied the game with a shot over Steve Pearce’s head in left field. Villar, batting .196 before tonight, brought home Grossman with a drive to center.

Darren O’Day replaced Gonzalez, who turned in his fourth consecutive quality start after allowing two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander walked two, struck out four, threw a wild pitch and hit a batter.

Villar’s double came on Gonzalez’s 102nd pitch of the night. He threw 22 in the seventh.

Gonzalez has allowed two runs in each of his last four starts.

Matt Dominguez led off the seventh with a double and held at third on Alex Presley’s one-out single to right. Presley hesitated as Markakis made the throw back to the infield, then broke for second and was cut down by catcher Caleb Joseph for the second out. Then came the back-to-back doubles and the lead change.

Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer came into the game with a 5.32 ERA, but he retired 10 straight Orioles before Chris Davis’ single with two outs in the seventh that broke an 0-for-17 slump. He retired 11 of the last 12 Orioles.

In two career starts against the Orioles, Oberholtzer has permitted only one run over 14 innings.

The Orioles have totaled two runs in the first two games of this series. If tonight’s score doesn’t change, they will have scored one run or fewer in nine games this season.

Update: The Orioles lose to the Astros 2-1 before 38,481 at Minute Maid Park.

The Orioles have lost four in a row, tying their longest streak of the season, and fall below .500 at 26-27 for the first time since April 22. They’ve lost 13 of their last 19 games.

Also, the Orioles fall to 11-8 in one-run games. They’re 1-23 when trailing after eight innings.

Where’s the offense? Two runs in this series against Brad Peacock and Oberholtzer is tough to accept.