Right-hander Scott Feldman's home debut for the Orioles on Monday wasn't nearly as strong as his team debut last week in Chicago.
But it wasn't as bad as the stat-line would indicate.
Feldman, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs on June 25 in a deal that sent Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to the Cubs, allowed seven runs on nine hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings in a 8-5 loss to his original team, the Texas Rangers.
"I wasn't too good," Feldman said. "Got an early lead there and wasn't able to hold it down … That stings a little bit to have a big inning like [the six-run sixth] and let them get all those runs across."
Feldman's ugly numbers were courtesy of a difficult sixth inning in which he allowed five earned runs on three singles, a double and an intentional walk. But three of those runs scored after Feldman left the game with the bases loaded (reliever Troy Patton couldn't stop the bleeding).
"That sixth inning was a rough one," said Feldman (0-1 with the Orioles and 7-7 overall). "Made some decent pitches, just seemed like everything they were hitting that inning kind of was like in a great spot. Got to go back and look at the tape and see what kind of adjustments I need to make for next time."
Feldman allowed just five hits, no walks and two runs through five innings and was on his way to his fourth quality start in five games before the game unraveled in the sixth.
"There were some balls that found some places that you can't defend. I love our club defensively," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It's just some balls seemed to find some spots. That's the way the game falls sometimes."
In his first outing with the Orioles last Wednesday, Feldman limited the Chicago White Sox to three earned runs in a six-inning no decision.
His lines in the two outings were actually pretty similar before Monday's sixth inning. He's now pitched to a 7.15 ERA in his two starts with the Orioles, giving up 15 hits in 11 1/3 innings. Feldman has struck out eight and walked just one batter in those two games, and the walk was intentional.
"Scotty's going to give you a chance to (win). I thought he did tonight," said Showalter, who previously managed Feldman with the Rangers. "A little more fortunate with some of the breaks of the game, he could have gone longer. It's a tough lineup."