HOUSTON — With a 4-2 loss Thursday to the Houston Astros, the Orioles were more than swept. They went down in this three-game series in historic fashion.
Under the bright lights of Houston's Minute Maid Park, the Orioles accumulated more strikeouts than any team in a three-game series in major league history, 52, and stoked all of the worst fears about them entering the season.
The past five games have seen the Orioles strike out 73 times and score 12 runs, eight of them via home runs. Designated hitter Mark Trumbo's team-leading 14th home run of the season scored the first run Thursday. Left fielder Hyun Soo Kim's hit his second single of the game to lead off the ninth, and scored on a single by shortstop Manny Machado. First baseman Chris Davis grounded out to end the game.
Every member of the lineup struck out at least once, with Davis and second baseman Jonathan Schoop leading the way with three apiece.
And the Orioles (26-19) have now lost four in a row for the first time this season.
Trumbo and Schoop both put charges into the ball in the eighth inning for some of the Orioles' best contact of the night, but neither eluded Astros center fielder Jake Marisnick, and the chance for a rally faded.
The Astros struck out a bit themselves, with 13 on the night, but two home runs by right fielder George Springer and a third in as many games by third baseman Luis Valbuena provided the only four runs the hosts would need.
Home runs doom Gausman
Orioles starter Kevin Gausman had allowed just three home runs in 36 2/3 innings entering the game, but three of the five hits he allowed Thursday were homers.
Otherwise, it was as impressive an outing as Gausman has had this season. He struck out seven in five innings while issuing just one walk, though he left with a 3.24 ERA because of the home runs.
It was just the second time in Gausman's career that he has allowed three homers in one game, and the first time since May 28, 2013.
Successful debut for Tolliver
Left-hander Ashur Tolliver, 28, made his major league debut in front of his family in Houston on Thursday, and made it one to remember. He struck out the first batter he faced, left fielder Colby Rasmus, and had three strikeouts by the time he left the game after 1 1/3 innings.
Tolliver, Mychal Givens and Zach Britton combined to strike out six in three scoreless innings of relief.
Walk, walk, walk
Machado walked in each of his first three at-bats Thursday, giving him seven in the series. The Astros walked Machado intentionally on three occasions this week, and were careful with him even when they weren't doing it intentionally. It speaks to the respect opponents have developed for him, and their willingness to let the rest of the lineup beat them.
Another lineup shakeup
A night after moving Schoop up to bat second behind Machado, manager Buck Showalter made two flips in the lineup. He swapped Davis into the third spot in the order with center fielder Adam Jones batting fourth, and moved Wieters to the fifth spot with Trumbo hitting sixth.
jmeoli@baltsun.com
twitter.com/JonMeoli