WASHINGTON _ Alec Asher hasn't had many easy assignments when the Orioles have used him as a starter, but he didn't make it easy on himself Thursday night against the high-flying Washington Nationals.
The host Nationals batted around in a 41-pitch first inning, scoring four runs and helping themselves to an early, easy lead against the Orioles' fifth starter on their way to a 6-1 win at Nationals Park.
The Orioles (31-27) split their season series against their nearest local rival with each team winning both games at home.
Asher has had starts like this before, including his first outing back in the rotation on May 28 in Houston, when the Astros scored six runs on six hits in two innings. He rebounded in between for a strong start against the Boston Red Sox, but it was trouble from the start again Thursday in a makeup game the Orioles looked like they had little interest being in town to play.
He issued a four-pitch, leadoff walk to shortstop Trea Turner, who promptly stole second base and third base before scoring on a single by right fielder Bryce Harper. The Nationals also scored on a single by reserve infielder Stephen Drew, and got a pair of runs on an RBI double by center fielder Michael A. Taylor to round out a big first inning.
Turner also scored the fifth run of the night in the second inning, when he singled, went to second on a Harper walk, advanced to third base after a double steal and scored on a sacrifice fly by reserve first baseman Adam Lind.
Because the Orioles needed to cover 81/3 innings of relief Wednesday and had several pitchers unavailable in the bullpen, Asher was made to stay in and take his lumps, ultimately exiting after allowing five runs on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts in four innings.
He gave way in the fifth inning to Ubaldo Jimenez, who allowed a home run to the first batter he faced before retiring the next seven in order and nine of 10 in three solid innings.
The Orioles lineup without third baseman Manny Machado (wrist) and center fielder Adam Jones (soreness) looked a little flimsy when it was posted, and it all but collapsed early against Nationals fifth starter Joe Ross.
Ross, who entered with a 7.34 ERA in six starts this season, struck out 12 of the first 18 batters he faced, with the only blemishes in his first six innings being a two-out single by first baseman Mark Trumbo in the first and a single by right fielder Seth Smith in the sixth.
The Orioles scraped together their first run of the game in the seventh inning, when Trumbo doubled to left-center field, went to third on a groundout and scored on a single by center fielder Joey Rickard to make it 6-1.
