By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Baltimore Orioles (5-5) are really an afterthought in the world of baseball in 2019. If you don’t think so, just ask every baseball expert in the world and they will tell you the Orioles are irrelevant. Many even call them a Triple-A team at best.

In fact, only 6585 people bothered to show up at Camden Yards to witness the O’s as they destroyed the Oakland Athletics 12-4 on Monday night. Baltimore put together 12 runs off 15 hits, while committing two errors. Their four pitchers held the A’s to just four runs on 11 hits and they committed two errors.

Baltimore jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead when Trey Mancini hit his fifth homer of the season in the bottom of the first inning off Marco Estrada. The Orioles scored three more runs in the home half of the second inning aided by a throwing error committed by Jurickson Profar. The A’s were in a 4-0 hole after just two innings.

A’s catcher Josh Phegley cut the O’s lead in half when he hit his second home run of the season — a two-run shot — off Andrew Cashner. It would be as close as the A’s would come to taking the lead in the game.

Baltimore would go on to score two in the fourth, one in the sixth and five runs in the eighth inning. The five runs were charged to Ryan Buchter (2) and Fernando Rodney (3).

The A’s (6-8) have now lost four consecutive games and are in sole possession of last place in the American League Western Division. This falls far short of the promise the opening homestand gave to the loyal #RootedinOakland fans.

At the Plate

The A’s

• Mark Canha had a 1-for-3 night that included his second home run of the season. Canha scored two runs, had an RBI and walked.
• Marcus Semien went 2-for-4 in the game and scored one of the A’s four runs.
• Matt Chapman went 3-for-5 in the game, but did not have an RBI or score a run.
• The A’s left eight men on base.
• Oakland went 0-for-8 with Runners In Scoring Position.

The O’s

• Trey Mancini led the charge for the O’s with the bat. He had a 3-for-3 night that included a two-run home run, two runs scored, two RBI and two walks.
• Jonathan Villar hit his third home run of the season off Estrada. Villar picked up four RBI in the game.
• Richie Martin went 3-for-4 with the bat. Martin hit a triple off Estrada. He scored three runs against the A’s on Monday night.
• Cedric Mullins — the number nine hitter for the O’s — had a huge night hitting two triples off Estrada. He finished with three RBI and two runs scored.

On the Mound

A’s

• Starter Marco Estrada had a very rough night. His start lasted only 4.0 innings. Estrada gave up six runs (all earned) off nine hits. He walked just one and struck out three batters. Estrada gave up two home runs.
• Oakland used four relievers in the game.
• Fernando Rodney had the toughest outing in relief as he was charged with three runs (all earned) off three hits.
• The loss was charged to Estrada who is now 0-1 on the season.

Baltimore

• Andrew Cashner (2-1) was credited with the win over the A’s. He gave up four runs (three earned) off nine hits. Cashner walked one and struck out one in his 5.1-innings on the hill.
• The O’s used three relievers who pitched 3.2 scoreless innings hold the lead for Cashner.

Up Next

The A’s and Orioles will play game two of their four-game series on Tuesday at 4:05 PM PDT. LHP Brett Anderson (2-0, 2.38) will start for the A’s and LHP John Means (1-0, 1.59) will take the ball for Baltimore.