masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIn 17 games this month, the Orioles rank third in the majors with a 3.02 ERA and a 2.87 starter ERA.

Now, if they could start scoring some runs…

The Orioles lost their first 1-0 game last night since Sept. 20, 2008 in the Bronx. It was their first 1-0 game since Oct. 2, 2012 at Tropicana Field, when Chris Davis homered off James Shields, who struck out 15 batters.

Shields starts today for the Royals.

The last time the Orioles lost a 1-0 game when the first batter of the game scored was…In 17 games this month, the Orioles rank third in the majors with a 3.02 ERA and a 2.87 starter ERA.

Now, if they could start scoring some runs…

The Orioles lost their first 1-0 game last night since Sept. 20, 2008 in the Bronx. It was their first 1-0 game since Oct. 2, 2012 at Tropicana Field, when Chris Davis homered off James Shields, who struck out 15 batters.

Shields starts today for the Royals.

The last time the Orioles lost a 1-0 game when the first batter of the game scored was July 12, 2002 against Oakland (Mark Ellis).

The Orioles have posted a 0.69 ERA in the first three games of the series, allowing two earned runs in 26 innings – the first time the club has held Kansas City to one run or less in three straight games since Sept. 14-16, 1992. Rick Sutcliffe, Arthur Rhodes and Mike Mussina were the starters.

This is the first time the Orioles have allowed one run or fewer in three straight games since Aug. 4-6, 2012 at Tampa Bay and versus Seattle. They last did it in four straight games on Aug, 22-25, 2011 in Minnesota.

The club record is six straight games done twice, most recently Sept. 1-6, 1974 at Kansas City, versus Boston and at Cleveland.

The Orioles have gone 21-14 from Monday to Saturday, but 1-5 in six Sunday games.

For the Orioles

Nick Markakis RF
Manny Machado 3B
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Nelson Cruz DH
Steve Clevenger C
J.J. Hardy SS
David Lough LF
Jonathan Schoop 2B

Ubaldo Jimenez RHP

For the Royals
Nori Aoki RF
Alcides Escobar SS
Eric Hosmer 1B
Billy Butler DH
Alex Gordon LF
Salvador Perez C
Lorenzo Cain CF
Mike Moustakas 3B
Pedro Ciriaco 2B

James Shields RHP

Happy 77th birthday to Brooks Robinson. Here’s hoping for many, many more.

They don’t get any better than No. 5.