A look at the latest loss, with notes on Cobb and the offense

Well, at least the Orioles didn't score three runs or less for the 17th time. They got four last night, but it wasn't nearly enough in an 8-4 loss to Tampa Bay.

The Orioles have lost four in a row, 10 of 11 and 12 of their past 14 games. Their miserable start now has them 12 games under the .500 mark at 6-18.

The Orioles got only five hits last night and the team average is just .169 (26-for-154) during what is so far a 1-4 homestand. They've scored 11 runs in five games on the homestand that began Friday night at Camden Yards.

In recent years, the Orioles have been at least a league average offense in runs scored, but they are not close this year.

2013: O's average 4.60 runs/game (American League average is 4.33)
2014: O's average 4.35 runs/game (AL average is 4.18)
2015: O's average 4.40 runs/game (AL average is 4.38)
2016: O's average 4.59 runs/game (AL average is 4.51)
2017: O's average 4.59 runs/game (AL average is 4.71)
2018: O's average 3.21 runs/game (AL average is 4.50)

Adam Jones hit his seventh and eighth doubles of the season last night, seven of which have come in the last six games. He produced his 555th and 556th career extra-base hits as an Oriole, one shy of tying Boog Powell for fifth-most all-time in Orioles history in extra-base hits.

Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb is now 0-3 with an ERA of 13.11 through three games. Over 11 2/3 innings, he has allowed a staggering total of 30 hits and 20 runs (17 earned).

After signing with the Orioles on March 21, Cobb and the club attempted to get him ready for the season with four starts in simulated games or extended spring training games. But that hasn't worked and he is still trying to find his usual form.

"You know, this whole search that I'm on, trying to get right, is tough," Cobb said. "It's tough to watch. It's tough to play behind. It is even more tough to be out there on the mound doing it. There are no excuses."

Last year, Cobb allowed 10 hits or more in just two of his 29 starts, and this year that is three out of three. Last year, he allowed five runs or more four times all season, and he's done that three out of three starts so far in 2018.

Despite the stat sheet, he sees a light at the end of the tunnel and better days ahead.

"You can dwell on all the negatives tonight, but each start I've had a lot to take away positively and build on," he said. "You have to throw the ball. You can't do anything to replace reps. You can do all the dry work, bullpens and video work you want, but until you have that ball in your hand and a big league hitter staring you down and you pound the strike zone the way you want to, nothing will replicate that. There are a lot of positives to take away for myself tonight. Which is tough to say because it was a difficult loss for us. The only thing I can do is try to take away some positives."

The Orioles have lost four in a row and six of their last seven against Tampa Bay. The Rays have now won five in a row. In their last four games, they have scored eight or more runs each time. This is the first time in franchise history that Tampa Bay has scored eight or more runs in consecutive games. The Rays scored 26 runs over the weekend in a three-game sweep of Minnesota. They trailed in all three games and trailed 3-1 early on last night.