Chen beaten by a pair of long balls as Orioles go down to Indians 7-2

Allowing a career-high six runs, including two homers, Chen failed to capture his eighth win this season as the Orioles were crushed by the Indians 7-2 in Baltimore.

The Taiwanese lefty gave up six hits and three walks in 6-1/3 innings. The six runs, as well as the two homers, matched the most he's yielded this season.

Losing his command, only 57 of Chen's 98 pitches were strikes in Thursday's game. He also walked three batters, hitting another.

”Every day, you get a different feel for your pitches. Today, I just don't feel it,” Chen said.

The-26-year-old hurler said he was somewhat affected by the home plate umpire's strike zone, which has been making him lose his pace and rhythm on the mound.

Instead of blaming the umpire, Chen said he will manage to regain his consistency and self-confidence in the game.

The Taiwan-native southpaw made a critical mistake early in the ballgame, letting Johnny Damon belt a three-run homerun in the second that gave the Tribe an early lead.

Chen gave up another homer in the fifth, when Shin-Soo Choo of South Korea took an outside fastball and hit it the other way, into the left stands.

The Orioles were still in range until the sixth. But Chen started the inning by allowing a one-out double to Lou Marson. After giving up a walk to Choo, Chen was taken out and replaced by Luis Ayala.

Failing to stop the bleeding, Ayala's third pitch was nailed by Asdrubal Cabrera to increase the O's deficit to 7-2.

The Orioles have now lost seven of their last nine and haven't scored more than three runs since June 16.

Chen is now 7-4 with an ERA 3.73.

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