Cashner allows 3 HRs as O's miss opportunities

September 6th, 2018

SEATTLE -- The Orioles had plenty of chances to conclude their three-game series in Seattle with a victory Wednesday night, but they couldn't take advantage of their opportunities.
Baltimore left 10 runners on base, went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position and failed to capitalize on the Mariners' defensive miscues in a 5-2 loss at Safeco Field.
"There were some opportunities there," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It seems like every play we make is magnified by our inability to score runs."
Three Seattle errors led to Baltimore's lone runs of the game in the fifth inning. After a one-out double by , a missed catch from first baseman scored Mullins and put on second base, tying the game at 1. The Orioles took a 2-1 lead when shortstop misplayed a ground ball from with two outs, allowing Villar to score.

Seattle's final error of the inning, a wild throw from second baseman Dee Gordon on Chris Davis' grounder, put runners on first and third, but Baltimore did not score any more runs.
"They were trying to give it to us, and we just didn't take advantage of it," Orioles catcher said.
The Orioles' lead was short-lived as the Mariners answered with back-to-back home runs in the fifth to quickly regain the lead and end starter 's night. On a 1-2 count with two outs, Cashner gave up 's 34th home run of the season, which tied the game at 2. followed with a home run to right to give Seattle a one-run lead.

"It's been a challenge for a lot of our pitchers, just getting outs in three or four pitches," Showalter said. "It seems like we are so deep in every count, even the counts we have in favor, the next thing you know, we turn around and the hitter knows without a doubt what's coming. It's forcing us to make pitches you don't want to make. … With all that being said, [Cashner] was one pitch away from coming out of the game after five with the lead."
Cashner went 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and walking two. The right-hander allowed three solo home runs, the first by Mitch Haniger in the third before the back-to-back long balls in the fifth.
"Any time you get the lead like that, you can't cough it right back up," Cashner said. "For me, it's better execution."
Span added to the Mariners' lead with an RBI single in the seventh, and drove in another run in the inning with a sacrifice bunt that made it 5-2.
Seattle starter Mike Leake tossed six innings, allowing two unearned runs, scattering seven hits and striking out four. pitched a perfect ninth for his MLB-high 53rd save of the season.
paced the Orioles' offense, going 3-for-4 with his team-leading 32nd double of the season.
SOUND SMART
Jones tallied his 39th multi-hit game of the season, and his 14th with three or more hits. He has hit safely in 26 of his last 35 games with an at-bat, batting .314 during the stretch.
UP NEXT
After an off-day Thursday, the Orioles continue their road trip when they travel to St. Petersburg to face the Rays on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. ET. (7-13, 5.36 ERA) hasn't earned a win since July 29, when he allowed three runs over seven innings against Tampa Bay. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.82 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season. Left-hander (17-5, 2.02) will start for Tampa Bay.