Bruce Zimmermann solid, but Tampa Bay wins to sweep series

Orioles lefty Bruce Zimmermann surely battled well today. He missed by one out giving the Orioles a quality start, something they have had just once in their last 15 games. But he pitched them deeper into the game than some O's starters recently had and kept his team in the game this afternoon at Tropicana Field.

But the O's offense was not getting much going against five Tampa Bay pitchers, and they lost 7-1 to the Rays to get swept in this series. The Orioles fall to 22-42 and have now lost 15 straight on the road, extending the team mark.

Tampa Bay swept the Orioles last month in Baltimore by a 32-14 score, bashing 11 homers. They pitched their team to a sweep this weekend, outscoring the Orioles 16-7.

The Orioles got just two hits today, and none after the second inning. They went 2-for-26 at-bat and their last 19 hitters in the game were retired in order.

In getting 17 outs today, Zimmermann ended a run of eight straight outings by O's starters of five innings or less. He came within an out of providing their second outing of six innings or more the past 15 games.

In making his 12th big league start this afternoon, Zimmermann allowed six hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings, recording three walks and three strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches, 56 for strikes, and falls to 4-4 with a 4.83 ERA.

Zimmermann had a couple of fast innings today, needing just seven pitches in a 1-2-3 second and just six in a 1-2-3 fifth. But in that inning the O's turned two balls put into play at 112 mph into outs.

The first-place Rays just find ways to beat you, and today it was the bottom of their order that tormented Zimmermann at times. No. 8 hitter Taylor Walls led off the third with a single and No. 9 hitter Brett Phillips walked. A Yandy Díaz single would tie the game at 1-1. The Rays fourth started with singles by Brandon Lowe and catcher Francisco Mejía. With one out and the runners at second and third after moving up on a ground ball, Walls singled in two runs to give Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead.

The Orioles had a taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Austin Hays drew a six-pitch walk to start the frame and moved up when Freddy Galvis advanced him with a bunt. Pat Valaika's single to left at 105 mph exit velocity scored him. But the inning ended when Valaika got picked off.

Getting a test today against a first-place team provided some nice experience for young Zimmermann. The O's youthful starters still have a lot of experience to gain and a lot of innings to throw to do just that.

* Zimmermann has a 5.68 ERA in 12 major league starts over 57 innings.
* Keegan Akin has a 3.50 ERA in nine major league starts over 36 innings.
* Dean Kremer has a 6.19 ERA in 13 major league starts over 56 2/3 innings.

The Rays broke open a close game today in the seventh when Randy Arozarena hit a grand slam off right-hander César Valdez to make it 7-1. It was his eighth homer of the year. Four have come against Baltimore pitching.

The Orioles saw several reasons why the Rays lead the American League East right now in this series. They rank fifth in the majors in runs scored, are fifth in team ERA and third in the majors in bullpen ERA. They rank first in the big leagues in Defensive Runs Saved. They began today with 54 and the next closest team had 36.

The O's road trip now moves on to Cleveland, where they begin a four-game series on Monday night and try to snap their road losing streak.