Washington Nationals drop third straight, 8-1 to Baltimore Orioles

Coming off back-to-back wins over the Atlanta Braves, Reynaldo Lopez took the mound in Oriole Park at Camden Yards tonight and struggled in a brief 2 ²⁄₃ inning outing, giving up seven hits and six runs, four earned, in what ended up being an 8-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

It was the third straight loss for the Washington Nationals.

Here’s how it happened:

Lopez’s first started with a single by Adam Jones and a walk to Steve Pearce, and two outs later Mark Trumbo hit a 1-2 curve to left field for an RBI single that brought Adam Jones in from third for a 1-0 lead.

A leadoff walk in the O’s second came around from first when Matt Wieters, who fell behind 0-2 trying to get a bunt down, lined a changeup from Lopez to right for an RBI double that made it 2-0 Orioles.

Wieters took third on a groundout and scored on an infield single by Adam Jones, 3-0.

Things fell apart in the third as Lopez gave up back-to-back one-out singles by Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo and an RBI double by Jonathan Schoop, 4-0. A walk to Pedro Alvarez loaded the bases and a fielding error by Daniel Murphy on a grounder to short allowed two more in before Perez was pulled with the O’s up 6-0.

Reynaldo Lopez’s Line: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BBs, 2 Ks, 82 P, 48 S, 4/2 GO/FO.

Orioles’ starter Keving Gausman completed 6.0 scoreless, giving up six hits and two walks and throwing a total of 110 pitches before he was done for the night.

Ryan Zimmerman, Clint Robinson and Danny Espinosa connected for consecutive singles off Vance Worley in the top of the seventh with Espinosa’s driving in the Nationals’ first run, 6-1, but that was all they managed to score, as Robinson got thrown out trying to take third on Espinosa’s hit and Jayson Werth grounded into an inning-ending double play (after Trea Turner 4 for 4, connected for his fourth hit).

The Orioles added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh when Alvarez doubled and scored on an RBI single by Wieters, 7-1.

Chris Davis hit his 30th HR of the season in the eighth to rub it in. 8-1 final.

Nationals now 73-52

NATS NOTES:

• Washington fell to 23-34 in the all-time series (2006-present) with the Baltimore Orioles with last night’s loss.
• Last night’s win gave the Orioles a 41-22 record at home this season, the third-best home record in the AL and fourth-best home record in the majors.
• The Nationals’ 73-51 record after last night’s lass was still the second-best in the majors heading into tonight’s matchup with the Orioles, behind only the Chicago Cubs (79-45).
• The Nats are up to a +144 run differential on the season, behind only the Cubs (+212).
• The Orioles added two home runs to their major league-leading total of 194 home runs as a team this season.
• Mark Trumbo leads the majors with 38 HRs after he took A>J. Cole deep in last night’s O’s win.
• Bryce Harper has driving in runs in 7 of his last 9 games, and reached base in all nine games. Since returning from his neck issue on August 14th, Harper is 12 for 33 (.364 AVG) with three doubles, two home runs, nine walks and eight runs scored.
• Ryan Zimmerman went 1 for 4 with a double last night, leaving him 5 for 12 (.417 AVG) with a double and a home run since coming off the DL.
• Zimmerman is 27 for 88 career in OPACY (.307) with five doubles, a triple, five home runs and 14 RBIs in 97 career PAs in the Orioles’ home.
• Orioles’ closer Zach Britton is 38 for 38 in save opportunities after earning another one in last night’s win. He’s now made 43-straight appearances without allowing an earned run.

Nationals now 73-52