Orioles losing streak reaches 19 with 14-8 loss to Angels

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles staggered to their 19th consecutive loss Tuesday night, allowing 19 hits and falling behind the Los Angeles Angels by 11 runs early in a 14-8 rout.

Baltimore trailed 5-1 in the second inning, 8-1 in the third and 13-2 in the fourth while limping to another lopsided defeat in the major leagues' longest skid since Kansas City dropped 19 straight in 2005.

“It’s tough to stay in the game when you’re down 13-2 after four innings,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “You’ve got to pitch in this league to win; you’ve got to pitch in this league to stay competitive.”

The Orioles have yielded at least eight runs in 12 games during the streak and been outscored 163-55. Winless since Aug. 2, Baltimore now stands just two losses short of matching the franchise record for successive defeats (set in 1988) and is within striking distance of the modern-day record of 23 in a row, held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies.

“This is incredibly challenging and a huge gut check,” Hyde said. “We’re trying to keep our spirits high.”

After Ryan Mountcastle homered in the first inning for a 1-0 lead, things soured quickly for Baltimore. No. 8 hitter Jo Adell tripled in two runs off rookie Spenser Watkins (2-6) and Juan Lagares followed with a two-run homer.

Adell added a two-run single in the third, and Lagares contributed an RBI single in a five-run fourth.

“It’s one of those confidence things,” manager Joe Maddon said. “When you get your confidence going it can be contagious in a good way.”

Every Los Angeles starter got a hit, the last being Shohei Ohtani with an eighth-inning single. The Angels went 11 for 19 with runners in scoring position.

“We were attacking the strike zone really well tonight up and...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Orioles-losing-streak-reaches-19-with-14-8-loss-16409839.php