As if a season-worst six-game losing streak weren’t bad enough for the Orioles, center fielder Adam Jones remained out of the lineup Sunday with ankle and hip soreness.
The veteran outfielder missed his second straight game as Joey Rickard took his place in center field for the series finale in Houston. After a strong April, Jones is hitting just .208 with four home runs and a .576 on-base plus slugging percentage this month.
Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Houston that he expected Jones to return to the lineup Monday afternoon.
Of course, Jones isn’t the only Orioles hitter struggling as the club has scored just seven runs over its last 43 innings at the plate dating back to Monday night. Buck Showalter’s club entered Sunday ranked 19th in the majors in runs scored per game, one of the big reasons why the Orioles have dropped to third place in the American League East while losing 12 of their last 15 contests.
Prior to Sunday’s game, the Orioles recalled right-handed pitcher Logan Verrett and optioned right-hander Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk.
In other Orioles-related news, outfielder Nolan Reimold has apparently retired from professional baseball. The 33-year-old had been playing for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League this season after hitting .222 with six homers for the Orioles in 2016.
