OAKLAND -- Manny Machado knows the Orioles are struggling right now. He also knows the team is liable to break out of it any minute.
Yovani Gallardo extended the pitching staff's streak to six consecutive quality starts, though that has translated into little more than a bit of frustration. The Orioles have lost four of their last five games with Wednesday night's 1-0 loss to the Athletics.
"It's August dog days," Machado said. "It's part of the grind. We're squaring the ball up; it's just not landing for us. We're all struggling right now. We're all a little down but we're doing the best we can."
After scoring 19 runs in taking two of three from the White Sox in Chicago to open the road trip, the Orioles have scored three times in 27 innings against Oakland, which ranks 14th of 15 AL teams in pitching.
"Real teams come out of this," Machado said. "We're going to get through this. We know we're better than this."
The Orioles couldn't even catch a break on a replay challenge. Adam Jones hustled to try to score from second on J.J. Hardy's hard-hit double in the top of the first. He beat the throw, but did not get his front foot down in time, as replays showed. Instead of a 1-0 lead after two batters, the Orioles lone scoring opportunity went for naught.

"It's the time of year we can't find a break," Machado said. "Every game counts and we have to stay positive, stay together. Eventually things will turn around."
The Orioles have been through this before and survived. They need only look to a four-game losing streak July 17-20 in which they scored a grand total of four runs. The Orioles responded with a five-game winning streak.
"I liked some of our at bats," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We couldn't string much together."
Gallardo, who has had his own struggles this year, understands the offense is not going to click every day.
"The offense has done a great job all year," he said. "This is just one of those stretches. Thing didn't go our way but you can look at their pitcher and he made pretty good pitches."

Worth noting
Left-hander T.J. McFarland, on the 15-day DL since June 30 with left knee inflammation, threw a rehab start for the Gulf Coast Orioles on Wednesday and will move on to make a rehab start in Frederick on Monday.