Somehow, O’s in position for statement series win

The Orioles have a chance to win the four-game series at Yankee Stadium with a victory today, and for the life of me, I don’t know how they’ve won two of the first three games and were still in possible sweep mode until the sixth inning Saturday.

They were being shut out on three hits through six innings by Masahiro Tanaka on Thursday before a five-run outburst in the seventh — the only inning in which they scored.

They were shut out on three hits over a span of nine innings — from the fifth through the 13th — during their dramatic 14-inning victory Friday night, and had just one hit in 10 opportunities with runners in scoring position.

They are a combined 4-for-22 (.182) with runners in scoring position over the first three games of the series and two for their last 19 (.105).

Meanwhile, Orioles pitchers have allowed the leadoff batter to reach base 14 times in the 31 innings in the series so far. Eight of those leadoff batters walked.

In Saturday’s eventually lopsided loss, the game was tied before Chris Tillman, Jimmy Yacabonis and Nestor Cortes Jr. walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Only Cortes kept that runner from scoring, but by that time it didn’t make any difference.

So, are things looking up for the Orioles after their dismal 1-5 start