The Orioles tonight retained the distinction of being the only winless team among the eighteen Major-League clubs as they dropped their sixth straight spring exhibition decision, this one to the Kansas City Athletics by a score of 5 to 3.

Indications as late as the top of the sixth were that the Birds were to end their victory drought as they coasted along with a 3 -- to-o advantage.

Over the first five frames, Jack Fisher, the big righthander who figures to be in the middle of Oriole plans for a drive on the 1961 American League pennant, held the A's scoreless while yielding three scattered hits.

Then Dick Hyde, submarine ball hurler, entered the contest and only five batters needed to face him before there existed a 3 -- to 3 deadlock.

A two run homer by Norm Siebern and a solo blast by Bill Tuttle tied the game, and single runs in the eighth and ninth gave the Athletics their fifth victory in eight starts.

With one down in the eighth, Marv Throneberry drew a walk and stole second as Hyde fanned Tuttle. Catcher Frank House's throw in an effort to nab Throneberry was wide and in the dirt.

Then Heywood Sullivan, Kansas City catcher, singled up the middle and Throneberry was across with what proved to be the winning run.

Rookie southpaw George Stepanovich relieved Hyde at the start of the ninth and gave up the A's fifth tally on a walk to second baseman Dick Howser, a wild pitch, and Frank Cipriani's single under Shortstop Jerry Adair's glove into center.