masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAfter hitting just three home runs over an eight-game stretch, the Orioles hit three in one game last night. They beat the Chicago White Sox 10-2 on Thursday to start a four-game series and 10-game homestand.
The Orioles’ 31 homers rank fourth in the majors behind Arizona (36), St. Louis (33) and Colorado (33). The Orioles are 6-2 when they hit two or more homers.
At 13-8, the Orioles have spent each day of the season in or tied for first place. Their 7-0 start made the Orioles the first…

After hitting just three home runs over an eight-game stretch, the Orioles hit three in one game last night. They beat the Chicago White Sox 10-2 on Thursday to start a four-game series and 10-game homestand.

The Orioles’ 31 homers rank fourth in the majors behind Arizona (36), St. Louis (33) and Colorado (33). The Orioles are 6-2 when they hit two or more homers.

At 13-8, the Orioles have spent each day of the season in or tied for first place. Their 7-0 start made the Orioles the first American League East team to begin 7-0 since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers started 13-0.

The Orioles are 8-1 at home and 5-7 on the road, and their run differential of plus-20 leads AL East clubs.

Manny Machado bat black.jpgManny Machado slugged his second career grand slam in the sixth inning in last night’s series opener. He hit his first on June 1, 2014 at Houston. It was the first grand slam by the Orioles this season. Baltimore hit six in 2015 season.

On the mound tonight, right-hander Mike Wright (1-2, 6.23 ERA) pitches against White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-2, 4.05 ERA).

Wright’s last start was Sunday in Kansas City. He took the mound in the last of the seventh trailing 2-1 at 87 pitches. But K.C. came up with a four-run seventh to break the game open and win 6-1. Wright’s final line showed eight hits and five runs allowed over 6 1/3 innings.

Over three starts, left-handed batters are hitting .345 against him with three homers in 29 at-bats and right-handed batters are hitting .243.

Rodon had a start where he gave up five runs in just 1/3 of an inning April 18 against the Angels. In his other three outings, his ERA is 1.83. Lefty batters hit .130 against him and right-handed batters are hitting .288. Rodon is 6-4 with a 2.41 ERA and 69 strikeouts over his last 12 outings dating back to Aug. 8, 2015 with 11 quality starts.

Active leaders, consecutive games played:
183 – Manny Machado, Orioles
124 – Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
114 – Adrian Beltre, Texas
113 – Jose Altuve, Houston
101 – Carlos Santana, Cleveland

Chicago and the Orioles remain one-two in the major leagues in bullpen ERA, but the gap closed last night. The White Sox ‘pen ERA is 1.68 starting tonight and the Orioles are at 1.70.