A day after becoming the only team in the Majors this year to win when trailing in the ninth inning and in extra innings in the same game, the O's lost the third and deciding game of their series with Tampa, 5-4, on Wednesday afternoon at the Yard. The O's fell behind 4-0 in the third, rallied to tie it at 4-4 by the fifth, only to see Tampa move back in front on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth. Losing pitcher Brad Bergesen allowed five runs and nine hits over 5 1/3. Bergesen falls to 3-8, 6.51.
A single and two walks loaded the bases in the Rays sixth before Jason Berken came on to get a force out at home. But he walked Evan Longoria with two outs to break the 4-4 tie and the run was charged to Bergesen. Bergesen has allowed 4 ER or more in 11 of 15 starts this year and that happened in just five of his 19 starts last season. Ty Wigginton hit a two-run homer for the O's, who also scored on a Jake Fox RBI double and a Luke Scott RBI groundout. The O's fall to 2-7 on the year vs. Tampa, 1-8 in games that decide a series, 1-5 on this homestand and 11-12 over their past 23 contests. The Orioles fall to 15-14 in one-run games. The Rays improved to 25-13 on the year vs. the AL East and they improved the best road record in the Majors to 31-17 with the victory. The O's welcome Minnesota to town Thursday night to begin a four-game series.