Frustrated Orioles lose to A’s 11-1

TODD KARPOVICH
Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore’s Manny Machado claimed there was no ill-intent after being at the center of another heated confrontation with the Oakland Athletics.

Still, the frustration of the entire Orioles team was evident for much of Sunday afternoon at a sun-splashed Camden Yards.

Brandon Moss hit a grand slam and Scott Kazmir threw seven scoreless innings as the A’s beat Baltimore 11-1 in a game that featured another benches-clearing confrontation between the teams.

Baltimore allowed a season-high 11 walks in its most lopsided loss of the year.

For the second time in three games, Machado was in the middle of a dugout-clearing scrum.

This time, Oakland left-hander Fernando Abad threw inside to Machado in the eighth. The bat flew out of Machado’s hands and went down the third base line. Both players exchanged words before the benches and bullpens emptied. Machado and Abad were ejected. Crew Chief Larry Vanover said Machado was ejected for throwing the bat and Abad was tossed for throwing at him a second time.

“The bat slipped out of my hands,” Machado said. “Trying to make contact and the umpire thought it was intentional and he tossed me at that point. The umpire thought it was intentional, so I guess at that point you’ve got to toss the pitcher and the hitter at the same time.”

On Friday, Machado didn’t like the force of the tag by Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson

and the two had to be separated.

John Jaso also had four RBIs for the A’s, who took two out of three in the series and improved to a major league-best 22-12 on the road. Jaso though Machado was out of line with his reaction.

“It got pretty intense there for a while,” Jaso said. “There is a certain respect you have to have for this game.

“When I feel somebody doesn’t see that and doesn’t respect the game as such, it doesn’t sit well with me,” he added. “I think guys like that need to be taught a lesson because there’s millions of other people that would love to have the spot that he has.”

Baltimore’s Ubaldo Jimenez (2-7), who signed a four-year, $50 million deal in the offseason, continued to struggle with his command. He allowed a season-high six runs on two hits with two strikeouts and five walks over just 2 1-3 innings, his shortest outing since April 16, 2013, against Cleveland.

He has not earned a victory since May 8 and has an ERA of 5.01 ERA over 70 innings with Baltimore.

“Mentally and physically, I’m good,” Jimenez said. “I’m never going to give up. I know I disappointed the team today and the bullpen had to come into the game early throwing so many innings, but I never give up. I’m going to forgot about a tough game like this one and try to get better for the team.”

Jimenez walked three consecutive batters to open the second before Jaso appeared to clear the bases with a shot over the center field fence. However, the umpiring crew reviewed the play for 3 minutes, 18 seconds before ruling the ball bounced off the top of the wall for a double. Jimenez then walked Nick Punto to reload the bases before Moss hit his second career grand slam.

Jaso increased the lead to 7-0 in the fourth on an RBI single to left off right-hander Brad Brach. After Brach issued three consecutive walks to load the bases again in the fifth, T.J. McFarland entered and got Jaso to hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Derek Norris before allowing a two-run single to Nick Punto.

Staked with an early lead, Kazmir (7-2) dominated the Orioles’ lineup. He allowed four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

“When you get a lead like that, you have to attack the hitters,” Kazmir said. “You have to get strike one they’re trying to get something going so they want to see some pitches. Trying to get a rally started.”

The Orioles finally got on the board in the ninth when Chris Davis walked with the bases loaded off right-hander Ryan Cook. A single by Kyle Blanks in the ninth boosted the margin to 11-1.

“We’re very close to winning two out of three against statistically the best team in the league, so they’re good.” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “We knew that. We knew that Kazmir is having about as good a year as anybody in baseball. We beat one of the best pitchers in the American League last night.”

NOTES: Norris left the game in the sixth after taking a back swing to the head by Machado. … A’s OF Coco Crisp, in the midst of a team-high 11-game hit streak, was given a breather Sunday. “Given his neck issues, he’s getting a lot better,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. … A’s 2B Alberto Callaspo ended 19-game hitless streak with a double in the fourth. …The Orioles activated RHP Tommy Hunter (left groin strain) from the 15-day disabled list Sunday. To make room, RHP Evan Meek was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. … Orioles RF Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first inning single. … Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy committed his fifth error in the past four games and was replaced by Ryan Flaherty in the eighth.