masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles ended a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in eight games when they beat Tampa Bay 3-1 on Thursday night. The Orioles host the Rays tonight in the second game of a four-game series to end the home schedule for 2017.
At 74-80, the Orioles need to go 7-1 or 8-0 the rest of the way for a .500 or better finish. They have lost 15 of 21 games and are 45-33 at home.
The win last night improved the Orioles’ record to just 16-54 when they score three runs or less….

The Orioles ended a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in eight games when they beat Tampa Bay 3-1 on Thursday night. The Orioles host the Rays tonight in the second game of a four-game series to end the home schedule for 2017.

At 74-80, the Orioles need to go 7-1 or 8-0 the rest of the way for a .500 or better finish. They have lost 15 of 21 games and are 45-33 at home.

The win last night improved the Orioles’ record to just 16-54 when they score three runs or less. Over the past 15 games, the O’s team average is .201 and they have scored 39 runs for 2.6 per game.

jimenez-high-knee-white-sidebar.jpgRight-hander Ubaldo Jiménez (6-10, 6.57 ERA) gets the start tonight. It is his 25th start and 31st appearance. In his last two games, he allowed three runs in five innings versus Toronto and one run in five innings with 10 strikeouts on Sunday against New York.

Jiménez is looking for his first quality start since July 31 against Kansas City, having gone seven straight starts without one. The Orioles are 12-12 in his 24 starts.

Jiménez will be making his fourth start against the Rays this season and the 12th of his career. This year, he is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA. In 11 career appearances, he is 5-4 with a 4.55 ERA. In seven games against Tampa Bay as a member of the Orioles, he is 2-3 with a 5.77 ERA.

Rays right-hander Alex Cobb (11-10, 3.63 ERA) will make his 29th start. He has been pitching well. Over his last six starts, he is 2-3 with a 2.51 ERA. In that span, Cobb has walked seven and fanned 34 in 32 1/3.

Cobb had an ERA this year of 4.52 through his first 12 starts. In 16 starts since, he is 7-5 with a 2.98 ERA, which is seventh-best in the American League in that time. Cobb has made 11 career starts versus Baltimore, going 5-2 with a 2.54 ERA.

Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa pitched eight innings and allowed just one run in Thursday’s win. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Ynoa became the second Orioles rookie in the last five seasons to win a game while pitching at least eight innings and allowing no more than one run. Tyler Wilson did so with eight scoreless in his victory against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 16, 2016.