Orioles pull Jake Arrieta in fifth inning against Dodgers

For the fourth consecutive time this season, Orioles starter Jake Arrieta couldn't make it to the sixth inning.

Arrieta allowed five runs, all of them earned, against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. He was pulled from the game with the Orioles leading, 4-3, in the top of the fifth inning at Camden Yards. The Dodgers had runners on the corners and no outs when he left. Those two runners scored after T.J. McFarland entered the game, but they were credited to Arrieta, who is in line for the loss if the Orioles don't erase this one-run lead.

Arrieta allowed just two hits, but he walked five batters and also hit another with a pitch. Inconsistent from at-bat to at-bat, he also struck out six Dodgers batters. He threw 91 pitches, 50 of them strikes, before leaving.

He started the game strong, retiring the first six batters.

The 27-year-old's fourth start of the season was reminiscent of his first three. In each of those starts, he ran up his pitch count and lasted five innings. Arrieta now has a 6.63 ERA and a 1-0 record on the season.

However, the O’s managed to win in his first three starts.

We’re midway through the fifth inning and the Orioles have chased Dodgers emergency starter Stephen Fife, too, so the Orioles still have plenty of plate appearances left to get Arrieta off the hook. Again.