masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgJake Arrieta held the Nationals to one run over six innings today, and he stands to be the loser unless the Orioles’ offense finally wakes up.

Arrieta stranded two runners in the sixth by retiring Ian Desmond on a pop up on his 103rd pitch of the afternoon. Troy Patton has replaced him.

Arrieta allowed five hits, walked one, struck out five and hit a batter. He’s permitted only one run in two of his last three starts, and he took a shutout into the sixth inning Monday at Citi Field before…Jake Arrieta held the Nationals to one run over six innings today, and he stands to be the loser unless the Orioles’ offense finally wakes up.

Arrieta stranded two runners in the sixth by retiring Ian Desmond on a pop up on his 103rd pitch of the afternoon. Troy Patton has replaced him.

Arrieta allowed five hits, walked one, struck out five and hit a batter. He’s permitted only one run in two of his last three starts, and he took a shutout into the sixth inning Monday at Citi Field before Ike Davis’ grand slam.

The Orioles are being shut out again today, giving them 15 runs in their last nine games. They’re 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position today, stranding six, and are 1-for-31 in their last seven games.

Earlier today, manager Buck Showalter shared a story about Johnny Oates, his former minor league manager. Then, he reflected on Oates’ funeral before adding an unexpected dose of levity.

“Great funeral, by the way. A celebration of Johnny’s life,” Showalter said.

“I made a note that that’s what I want mine to be like, so remember that, all right? It could be any day if we don’t start hitting a little better.”

Here are the pitching matchups for the Angels series:

Tuesday: Brian Matusz (5-8, 5.00 ERA) vs. C.J. Wilson (8-4, 2.44 ERA)
Wednesday: Jason Hammel (8-2, 2.61 ERA) vs. Jered Weaver (7-1, 2.40 ERA)

Yes, the Orioles get Wilson and Weaver. No, it doesn’t get any easier for them.

Update: The Orioles stranded two more runners in the seventh when Brian Roberts and J.J. Hardy grounded out. They’re 1-for-33 with RISP in their last seven games.

Chris Davis pinch-hit for Steve Tolleson and flied to the edge of the warning track in left field, making him 0-for-29.

Update II: Adam Jones led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single off left-hander Sean Burnett, and Matt Wieters homered into the Orioles’ bullpen.

Orioles 2, Nationals 1.

Wieters hadn’t hit a home run since June 3, off Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore.

Jim Johnson is warming. He’ll go for his 22nd save in the top of the ninth.

Update III: Johnson collected his 22nd save, and the Orioles again took two of three games from the Nationals with a 2-1 victory before 41,794 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles are 11-4 at home against the Nats since 2008.

The Orioles matched their franchise record with 11 interleague wins this season. They also reached that total in 1999, 2008 and 2009. Their 5-1 interleague series record equals their best mark set in 2009.

This is the fourth time in 16 years that the Orioles have finished with a winning record against the National League.

Burnett had given up one home run over his last 50 appearances before facing Wieters today.

The series drew 133,983 fans, the most for a three-game set this year.