Seattle @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2010 ) Seattle 4, Baltimore 5
Kevin Millwood’s nightmare season continues.
The Baltimore Orioles' veteran right-hander has won just twice all season and is having a terrible time getting out of the first inning unscathed. He has allowed at least one first-inning run in 12 of his last 14 starts.
Considering Baltimore’s inept offense, that’s recipe for disaster – especially when you can’t slam the door after putting your team behind the eight-ball.
Millwood (2-12, 5.74 ERA) will take the mound as the Orioles (42-77) host the Seattle Mariners (46-73) on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old has also allowed at least five runs on nine different occasions, including a recent stretch in which he permitted five runs in five consecutive starts following a stint on the disabled list with a right forearm strain.
Millwood's last two outings were much better. He allowed just three runs over 13 innings, but he still couldn’t get into the win ledger.
Lucas French (1-3, 4.96 ERA) takes the hill for the Mariners on Tuesday.
Acquired in the Jarrod Washburn deal, the left-handed prospect joined the rotation last month and makes his fifth start of the season.
His heater tops out around 91 mph and also has a decent slider to go along with a changeup in his arsenal. French took a 5-1 loss against the Oakland Athletics during his last time out, giving up seven hits and four runs over seven innings.
Baltimore's Adam Jones played the hero in Monday's contest.
Jones dropped down a suicide bunt to score Nick Markakis from third in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Orioles to a 5-4 victory and spoil an impressive effort from Seattle's Adam Moore.
The Mariners catcher finished 4-for-5 with a solo homer in the 10th inning. Seattle was just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position on Monday night.
The Orioles look to have more of a jump to their step now that Buck Showalter is minding the shop from the dugout. Baltimore has won 10 of its 14 games with the new manager at the helm.
While that was going on between the lines, the Orioles also managed to sign their first-round pick - high school shortstop Manny Machado - just three minutes before the midnight deadline on Monday. The third overall pick in June’s draft, Machado will receive a $5.25 million signing bonus.
Seattle’s struggles continue – especially on the road. The Mariners are 17-41 away from home this season.