Playing the numbers game after yesterday's loss

With yesterday's 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Angels, the Orioles fell three games back for the second wild card spot and failed to gain ground on the Yankees, who remain five games ahead of them in the division.

An opportunity also was lost, and the second-guessing carried through the night.

Manager Buck Showalter took a huge risk by ordering intentional walks to Mike Trout and Albert Pujols to load the bases with two outs. Brian Matusz fell behind in the count and eventually ran it full before David Murphy's fly ball to left field sailed over David Lough's head to end the game.

There were so many numbers to sift through. Matusz had allowed only three earned runs in his last 17 appearances, with 23 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings. He hadn't issued a walk in his last eight appearances - a key statistic for fans objecting to the strategy by claiming that Matusz "always walks guys."

Left-handers were batting .129 against Matusz, compared to the .304 average compiled by right-handers. However, Murphy was 5-for-12 with a home run against him.

Matusz won't find many favorable matchups against the Angels. The current group was 20-for-54 (.370) against him. Pujols is 3-for-6 with two doubles and a home run. Trout is 2-for-5 with two doubles. Erick Aybar is 7-for-16.

During his postgame interview on MASN, Showalter talked about having to pick your poison in this situation. It's reasonable to ask why he didn't pick Zach Britton, who's pitched once since July 31. Britton worked 2 1/3 innings on Wednesday in Oakland.

Matusz is the lefty specialist and Showalter went with him. He got a fly ball that didn't reach the warning track, but Lough was playing shallow and couldn't catch up to it.

Chaz Roe took the loss after giving up a leadoff double to Carlos Perez. Matusz has allowed eight of 16 inherited runners to score this season.

Like I said, so many numbers to sift through.

Roe hasn't enjoyed a clean outing in 13 of his last 14 appearances. Granted, he allowed one hit over two scoreless innings on July 5 and 11, with a combined five strikeouts, but his effectiveness is waning.

Roe has been charged with runs in three of his last four outings. In May, he registered 7 1/3 scoreless innings in five games. In June, he allowed four runs and 10 hits in 13 2/3 innings in 11 games. In July, he allowed five runs and 16 hits in 12 1/3 innings in nine games. In August, he's allowed three runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings in three games.

Roe stranded the first 14 runners that he inherited, but he's let the last three score.

The Orioles need him right, especially with Tommy Hunter pitching for the Cubs and Mychal Givens at Double-A Bowie. Roe is out of options and can't be sent to the minors without clearing waivers.

The killer pitch to me yesterday was the 0-2 fastball from Miguel Gonzalez in the third inning that Murphy launched for a three-run homer. How many times have Orioles pitchers been burned by two-out, two-strike offerings this season? It happens way too frequently.

The Angels had runners on the corners with no outs. Gonzalez struck out Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, but Murphy made him pay for a poorly located heater. That just can't happen.

Jimmy Paredes went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, and his average is down to .279. He's 3-for-24 with no walks and 12 strikeouts this month. That's an issue when he's your left-handed designated hitter.

The day also included news that Tyler Wilson was scratched from his start at Triple-A Norfolk due to a sore oblique muscle. I'm told that he felt it while warming up and was removed as a precaution. Wilson will undergo an MRI.

Today has got to be better. Right?

The West Coast trip moves to Seattle, where the Orioles won three of four games last season.