As different as Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald and his Milwaukee counterpart tonight, Ricky Bones, are, they do share one thing in common: their lack of success against the other's ballclub.

The 6-foot-7 McDonald is enjoying an impressive 12-7 season with a 4.47 ERA. Although he was tagged for six runs in five innings against Toronto last Sunday, McDonald had won his three previous starts since the All-Star break.

But against the Brewers, the 26-year-old right-hander from Baton Rouge, La, has hit the skids. McDonald is 1-1 vs. Milwaukee this season with a disastrous 11.88 ERA.

Although he beat Milwaukee in a 5-3 win on May 23 (coincidentally, the opposing pitcher was Bones), McDonald also has been on the opposite end. On June 22, he lasted only 1 2/3 innings as the Brewers roughed him up for eight runs and seven hits on their way to a 9-2 win at Camden Yards.

McDonald has had problems facing Milwaukee since his first full season as a starter in 1992. Before this year, he was a woeful 1-5 lifetime against the Brewers with a 3.74 ERA. He had given up a run every 2 1/3 innings.

In the other bullpen, the 6-foot Bones also has had his share of problems against the Orioles. The 24-year-old right-hander from Salinas, Puerto Rico, lost his only meeting vs. the Orioles in the 5-3 loss on May 23. Although he went 7 1/3 innings, Bones allowed five runs on nine hits for a 6.13 ERA.

In the years before this season, Bones was 1-2 against the Orioles and had given up almost as many runs (25) as innings pitched (29 1/3 ). His ERA was a whopping 7.67.