More on Manny Machado at shortstop (O's lose 6-3)

The Orioles lineup tonight included a fair share of double-takes.

Is that Manny Machado at shortstop instead of third base? Are all three catchers getting starts?

Caleb Joseph is 2-for-6 against Rays starter Chris Archer. Matt Wieters is 4-for-12. Steve Clevenger is 0-for-2, but he was swinging a hot bat before leaving the club for the birth of his daughter.

Machado is making his first career start at short in the majors and only his second appearance. In his debut, he replaced J.J. Hardy in the ninth inning of an Aug. 23 game against the Twins and committed a costly error while charging a ball.

"He's been playing shortstop all year, half the games in the shifts. He really has," said manager Buck Showalter. "He's got as many putouts at shortstop as he's got at third base. Bobby (Dickerson) was telling me. So I know it's different. I know he's pretty excited about it.

"Every once in a while you're in need of a different look. Something to take away from Groundhog Day."

In other words, shake things up after your club has lost 10 of its last 11 games. But Showalter isn't doing it as some sort of gimmick.

"What plays into it is Manny's capable of being a really good shortstop and Ryan (Flaherty) has played well at third," Showalter said. "I like Ryan at all places, and Ryan has had a little success off Archer, too. And we're looking for any way to mount some offense against a pitcher that good.

"I wanted to get Steve (Clevenger) back in there. I hate anybody getting penalized because they had a great event in their life like the addition of a child. We had three left-handers in a row, we've got another tomorrow. Matt's good protection for Chris being a switch-hitter, I could keep going for about 30 reasons.

"They've added another left-hander in the bullpen and will probably add another one tomorrow. They are going be very left-handed, so you want to make sure that you space them out."

While Machado does spend a considerable amount of time at the shortstop position on shifts, he's not used to having an infielder to his right. It was the norm, of course, during his days as a high school and minor league shortstop.

"Maybe if it's someone that he hasn't been comfortable with, or if this guy's never played shortstop, but Manny's played more games at shortstop (in his life) than he has third base. It's kind of like Chris Davis in right field," Showalter said.

"What's the definition of insanity?"

Asked about the error against the Twins, Showalter said, "I think that was great. Not great, but I think that could be a good thing, too. And it wasn't routine. It wasn't a real easy play. I'm not so sure anybody else would have made it. We assume that."

Showalter wanted to get Machado back at shortstop. He doesn't want players to dwell on a mistake without getting a chance to atone for it.

"Oh, yeah, almost did it," he said. "I think not only Manny, but some people need a little blank in the giddy-up. I think everybody needs a little something different now and then. If you're scared, get a bigger dog on your porch. How do you find out if Steve Pearce can play second base? You run him out there.

"We know Matt will be a good target at first base. He catches his whole life. That's what he's doing there. One thing you concern yourself a little bit with stuff like that is footwork. That was another reason I wanted to play Manny at short if Matt was going be the first baseman.

"I thought about Clev over there, but the dynamic of moving things around if you pinch-hit or pinch-run works better that way."

The new lineup was slow to evolve. Showalter and bench coach John Russell began working on it following yesterday's game in Texas.

"John and I spent a lot of time on this one," Showalter said. "It started on the plane last night. Then you wake up the next day and see if you still feel that way. Like a lot of things, I try not to knee-jerk on because you're usually emotional - not emotional, but in a different mental state of mind - (after the losing streak) and you don't want to make some rash decision.

"There's a time for rash and there's a time for, what's the word? Spontaneity. I can do that."

Showalter doesn't want the lineup to be construed as a sign of panic as the Orioles slipped into fourth place in the American League East.

"I'm trying to give you all something, because I know you're getting tired of asking the same questions," he said.

"We're trying to win and we think this gives us the best chance tonight. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

The future could include Machado at shortstop on a more permanent basis. For now, J.J. Hardy remains on the disabled list and Paul Janish has been sensational in the field when he's cracked the lineup against left-handed starters.

"We're looking forward to J.J. getting back Tuesday," Showalter said. "So is Manny and we'll see what we do in the ninth inning tonight if we have a lead defensively."

Rays leadoff hitter Brandon Guyer swung at the first pitch from Wei-Yin Chen and grounded to Flaherty at third base.

And so it begins ...

Update: Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier robbed Machado of a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning, leaping high above the fence to make the catch. A spectacular play.

The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second on Logan Forsythe's leadoff triple and Tim Beckham's sacrifice fly. Adam Jones made a strong throw to the plate, but Joseph couldn't hold onto the ball.

Update II: Forsythe singled with two outs in the fourth and Asdrubal Cabrera homered to deep left field to give Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead. The ball was crushed.

Chen gave up four straight two-out hits in the inning.

The Orioles, meanwhile, haven't scored since the fifth inning of Saturday night's game.

Update II: The Rays expanded their lead to 5-0 in the fifth on Joey Butler's double play grounder that scored Rene Rivera, who led off with a double, and Evan Longoria's 15th home run of the season.

Chen allowed five runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, with no walks, four strikeouts and two home runs. He threw 76 pitches, 56 for strikes.

Forsythe doubled to knock Chen out of the game. He's a home run short of the cycle.

Update III: Beckham homered off Brach on the first pitch of the sixth inning to give Tampa Bay a 6-0 lead.

Update IV: The Orioles won't be shut out. Adam Jones singled in the seventh to score Machado, who reached on a fielder's choice after singles by Caleb Joseph and Gerardo Parra. Clevenger delivered a two-run single with two outs to reduce Tampa Bay's lead to 6-3.

Parra was 2-for-25 in his last six games before the single.

The Orioles hadn't scored in 19 consecutive innings.

Update V: A return home didn't aid the Orioles, who lost to the Rays 6-3 before 19,841 at Camden Yards.

Again, the Orioles' scoring was confined to one inning.

The Orioles have lost five games in a row, 11 of 12 and 12 of 14 to fall five games below .500 for the first time since June 6.

The Orioles (63-68) have been held to three runs or fewer in 11 of their last 12 games. They're 0-60 when trailing after the eighth inning.