The Orioles just finished up a four game series with the Astros and it was not fun, to say the least. For this recap, I will try to pinpoint all of the positive things that happened in each game because I feel like O’s fans need a morale boost right about now.

Game One: Orioles: 13, Astros: 5

In this game, not only did the Orioles score 13 runs; it happened with Kevin Gausman starting! Gausman, himself, went 6 2/3 allowing five runs, four earned on seven hits while striking out eight and walking one.

J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis both had multi-home run games while Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo each had one of their own to contribute to the onslaught of runs by the O’s on the day.

Adam Jones also contributed with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, immediately followed by a Hyun Soo Kim RBI single.

Donnie Hart also pitched a scoreless inning, giving him six professional innings under his belt without allowing a run.

Game Two: Astros: 15, Orioles: 8

Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo all made history in the first inning by hitting home runs before recording an out, something that has not happened since 1900.

Pedro Alvarez also connected for a home run in the fifth, cutting the Astros lead at the time to 9-8. Unfortunately for the O’s, that would be the last of the offense on the day for as much as they had in the first few innings.

Game Three: Astros: 12, Orioles: 2

Oh boy, umm. Ryan Flaherty pitched; that was pretty fun. Flaherty allowed two runs on three hits in his first ever pitching appearance in the Majors. Donnie Hart, Mychal Givens and Brad Brach all combined for three scoreless innings with Hart now having seven Major League appearances without allowing a run.

Chris Davis hit a home run to the visitors bullpen which eventually bounced out of the bullpen and into the center field picnic area; something very hard for left handed hitters to do. That is about all the good things that happened in this very depressing game.

Game Four: Astros: 5, Orioles: 3

Jonathan Schoop and Mark Trumbo both had home runs on the day. Unfortunately, they were only solo shots.

Yovani Gallardo was able to go seven innings only allowing four runs, three earned, which is a pretty solid start for him. He was followed by Parker Bridwell, who made his MLB debut on Sunday.

The positive things were few and far in between this past series but you can look at the standings to see that some things could still trend upwards. While the O’s are now 2.5 games back in the East, they are in the thick of the Wild Card race, currently holding the second WC spot, and are still 11 games over .500 with over 39 games left, most of which are against the AL East.

The Orioles hope to rebound with a home/road split four game series against the Nationals. The series will start with Dylan Bundy going against A.J. Cole. Kevin Gausman and Reynaldo Lopez will go in game two with Wade Miley and Tanner Roark going in game three. The series will finish up Chris Tillman taking on Max Scherzer.