Showalter, Cobb, Machado and Jones after the O's fall to 5-14

DETROIT - As the Orioles leave behind Detroit and an 0-6 road trip, they'll head home with one of baseball's worst records at 5-14. There is a lot to fix. Over the next few weeks we'll find out if they can fix it and if they haven't buried themselves too far within the first three weeks of a new season.

In today's 13-8 loss to Detroit, right-hander Alex Cobb struggled again. He is not yet the pitcher the Orioles expected, and his late start to spring training clearly has been impactful.

"There is just a mid-season form and feel you get into where you are not thinking about anything but executing this pitch with all intensity. I haven't been there yet," Cobb said.

He gave up seven runs (five earned) and 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings and is 0-2 with a 15.43 ERA. Boston and Detroit batters have gone 20-for-40 against him. He's allowed 20 hits and 15 runs (12 earned) over seven innings.

Cobb desired to be a stopper today. Instead, he was a contributor to a losing streak that reached six.

"In the offseason I wanted to join a winning team and be a big reason why they are winning ballgames," he said. "I feel like it is the opposite right now and I'm putting them behind the eight ball in terms of the score and really just eating up the bullpen.

"I've always taken pride in my career going deep in games and when the team needs a big start to step up and do it, and it's been tough. I'm still a bit behind where everyone else is. Up here these guys take advantage of anyone that is off a bit. I need to be that guy I wanted to be in the beginning."

The Orioles had more defensive issues today. Cobb allowed four runs in the home second, but it started with a throwing error by third baseman Tim Beckham. Later in the inning he could not barehand a slow roller that went for a single. He bobbled a hard-hit ball that might have started an inning-ending double play. Instead, the O's got just one out. After looking solid at third in the spring, Beckham took a step back today.

"It was a tough day for, not just him," manager Buck Showalter said. "We gave them a lot of extra outs. Tim's better than that. I was glad to see him get three hits. That bodes well and I hope that gets him going."

The Orioles did put up some offense today. They tied a season high with eight runs. But four of those runs came in the final three innings and only served to make the final more respectable. The Orioles trailed 12-3 in the fifth after Leonys Martin hit his first career grand slam off right-hander Mike Wright Jr.

Manager Buck Showalter agreed it was nice to see the bats get going. Now they have to do that more often. Much more often.

"Yes, but what does it mean tomorrow? (Indians pitcher Trevor) Bauer doesn't care, and he's good. Tomorrow is another challenge. I just want these guys to feel good about where we are. If we can put a few games together, someone is going to pay down the road," he said.

Manny Machado hit two homers today for his 16th career multi-homer game, and drove in four runs. Chris Davis homered to left, and that was a good sign too.

But now that they are nine games under .500, the Orioles need wins, not good signs.

I asked Machado what aspect of the team's play has been most concerning thus far?

"I don't know. I can't blame someone or anything. It's been team losses. Everything hasn't been going for us. At the end of the day we just have to play better baseball. We know the type of team we have here. We just have to click. It takes one game, one at-bat, one pitch for things to turn around, so hopefully that happens sooner than later.

"There is no panic. I think everyone is frustrated. We just have to stay positive. This will pass. We've got a great team and once it starts clicking, we'll get rolling," Machado said.

Adam Jones went 3-for-5 today, and his three doubles were a career high. He drove in two. The Orioles keep insisting they are better than this and it will be seen. But that needs to happen immediately. Jones said the turnaround will come.

"Who knows when it is?" he said. "It can be tomorrow or May 3rd. If it's May 3rd, that is going to be some trouble. But tomorrow we could come out and win all 10 games on a homestand and put ourselves in a different scenario. We know it's there. We just have to continue to have faith in each other and live with the results."

Cobb echoed that thought. This team is new to him but he sees a clubhouse keeping it together during a tough time and feels that will eventually pay off.

"You tell the most about a squad when they are losing, not winning. The guys are still very positive. Seasons can get away from you early. But there is a lot of ball to be played. I think they are confident and not panicking because they know how good they are. When we get some momentum going, you never know how good you can really be," Cobb said.

With eight losses in nine games and a road record of 3-10, the Orioles head home now. They will try to begin a turnaround Friday night at 7:05 p.m. versus the Cleveland Indians.