Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Last night the Orioles played a game that, if the standings mattered, would have ranked as one of their most mind-boggling losses of the year. The O’s had every opportunity to steal a second straight win from the AL West-leading Astros, but put up a hideous 0-for-14 performance with runners in scoring position. After tying the game in the eighth, the Orioles had the potential go-ahead run in scoring position — with nobody out! — in the ninth, 10th, 11th, and 12th innings, only to leave every one of them stranded. They couldn’t buy a clutch hit or even a productive out, and eventually lost when former Oriole Ramón Urías beat out a double-play grounder to walk it off for the Astros. Check out Andrea SK’s recap for the details.

The good news, if you can call it that, is that the Orioles are already so much of a non-contender that any given loss is not going to cost them anything but pride. It’s not like they’re losing ground in a pennant race. So, that loss might stink, but just add it to the already large pile of defeats the O’s have suffered this year. What’s one more?

The more intriguing part of the night was Dylan Beavers’ major league debut. To my untrained eye, he looked impressive at the dish. Aside from a three-pitch strikeout in his first at-bat, he seemed to have a good plan at the plate and hit several balls hard. He socked a double off an excellent reliever, Bryan Abreu, for his first major league hit in the ninth. In the 11th, with the go-ahead run at third, Beavers sizzled a laser-beam liner that unfortunately was caught by the second baseman (who doubled off the runner).

There were other positive developments from the game. The O’s bullpen did a nice job, including scoreless appearances by newer guys like Yaramil Hiraldo and Dietrich Enns, the latter of whom pulled a couple of Houdini acts to escape jams in the 10th and 11th. Cade Povich, though he gave up three runs, racked up 10 strikeouts in five innings. Orioles fans will have to settle for moral victories in the absence of, you know, actual victories.

The two teams wrap up the three-game set this afternoon, with Dean Kremer squaring off against Cristian Javier. Can the O’s play spoiler, and what will Game 2 bring for Dylan Beavers?

Orioles prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. eager to put rough year behind him – Baltimore Baseball

I like the cut of Enrique Bradfield’s jib. Here’s hoping he bounces back from this injury-plagued season and becomes a contributor to the Orioles in the not too distant future.

Orioles lose marathon to Astros, 5-4, as Ramón Urías plays spoiler again

I can’t help thinking that if Urías were still playing for the Orioles, last night’s result would have gone the opposite way.

Call-up brings Dylan Beavers’ parents ‘tears of excitement, joy’

I’m a sucker for stories like this. Congrats to Dylan and his folks.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 84th birthday to Orioles Hall of Famer, former AL MVP, and barbecue master Boog Powell. The four-time All-Star spent 14 of his 17 major league seasons in Baltimore, and ranks in the top 6 in Orioles history in games played (1,763), hits (1,574), homers (303), and RBIs (1,063). Enjoy your day, Boog! Other former Orioles born on Aug. 17 include lefty Chris Waters (45) and the late right-handers Vern Bickford (b. 1920, d. 1960) and John Buzhardt (b. 1938, d. 2008).

Somehow the Orioles haven’t won a game on this date in a full decade. They’ve lost their last seven games played on Aug. 17 (with two off days). Their last win came in 2015, when they beat the Oakland Athletics, 4-2, to complete a four-game sweep in Baltimore. Steve Clevenger’s three-run homer off Sonny Gray provided the margin of victory for the Birds, while Chris Tillman pitched a gem, working seven innings of two-run ball before a scoreless frame apiece from Darren O’Day and Zack Britton. The win improved the Orioles to 61-56, but the next day they started a brutal 2-13 stretch that all but knocked them out of playoff contention.

On this date in 1963, O’s reliever Dick Hall pitched a perfect inning of relief against the Kansas City Athletics, extending his streak to 28 consecutive batters retired. The streak was snapped when he allowed a leadoff single in his next outing.

And on this day in 1989, Cal Ripken Jr. played his 1,208th consecutive game in an 11-6 win over the Blue Jays. That moved Cal ahead of Steve Garvey for the third longest consecutive games streak in MLB history. And it wasn’t even halfway to where Cal would end up.