Baltimore Orioles Daily: Machado continues power surge as Birds split doubleheader

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 12: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first game of a doubleheader at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 12, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 12: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first game of a doubleheader at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 12, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles
BALTIMORE, MD – MAY 12: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first game of a doubleheader at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 12, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles split their Saturday doubleheader, bringing them to 12-28 on the year.

For a brief moment on Saturday, the Baltimore Orioles had something for which they had long hungered: their first four-game winning streak since last August. A solid MLB debut from rookie starter David Hess and another home run from Manny Machado propelled the Birds to victory in the first game of their doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays, winning 6-3.

It didn’t last, unfortunately. The Rays scored on all four of the Orioles pitchers in the later game, and while Trey Mancini did hit a home run, it was one of just four hits for the Birds. The 10-3 loss brought them back to 12-28, 15.5 games behind the leaders in the AL East.

More from Birds Watcher

The two sides will finish up the series today at 1:05 p.m. ET — here’s where to watch the action. Until then, here’s what you might have missed yesterday.

Best of Orioles news and analysis across the web from 5/12/18

‘An experience that you literally dream about’: Hess lifts Orioles in debut: With three earned runs over six innings, David Hess’ major league debut wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to get the win in the first game of the doubleheader. Jon Meoli has the story.

Remembering 1983: A look at the Orioles’ world championship for the week of May 13-19: In this installment of Mike Klingaman’s weekly Baltimore Sun feature, Mike Boddicker and Storm Davis deliver big performances, while Eddie Murray is tossed from a game for a questionable reason.

Orioles minors recap 5/12: Offense provides fireworks for Tides, Baysox, Shorebirds: The 2018 Orioles are going nowhere, but this franchise won’t be in the woods forever. Read along as Harrison Jozwiak of Camden Chat provides the latest on the Birds’ top prospects.

Next: The top 5 strikeout pitchers in Orioles history

What do you think: will the Birds clinch the series today? Let us know on social media, and keep it here at Birds Watcher for more updates on the Baltimore Orioles.

Schedule