O's game blog: Hitting notes heading into Game 2 (O's win 8-3)

The Orioles have been losing a lot lately, while Tampa Bay has been winning lately. The Orioles will try to reverse that trend this afternoon at Tropicana Field.

The Orioles (35-38) have lost four of five and 22 of their past 32 games. Tampa Bay (40-36) is a season-high four games over .500 after winning five of six and 11 of its past 16 games. Tampa Bay is 10-3 in its last 13 home games.

The Orioles send right-hander Dylan Bundy (7-6, 3.72 ERA) to the mound for his 16th start. After recording quality starts in 10 of his first 11 outings, Bundy has done that just once in the last four games. He has an ERA of 6.64 in that stretch. Over his last two starts, Bundy has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) in 9 1/3 innings.

Bundy's ERA by month:
1.65 in April
3.92 in May
6.64 in June

Right-hander Jacob Faria (3-0, 1.37 ERA) will make his fourth start for the Rays. He has allowed one run in each of his first three starts over 19 2/3 innings with four walks to 22 strikeouts and a .208 average against.

Faria is attempting to become the first pitcher in Rays history to begin his major league career by winning his first four appearances. Jeremy Hellickson (2010) and Doug Waechter (2003) won their first three appearances, and James Shields (2006) went 4-0 over his first five games.

Orioles hitting notes:

* Over his past 11 games, Adam Jones is batting .395 (17-for-43) with a homer and four RBIs. Jones is batting .435 (10-for-23) during a six-game hitting streak.

* In 18 games in June, Manny Machado is batting .269 (19-for-68) with five doubles, five homers, 12 RBIs and with an OPS of .898.

* Trey Mancini has hit safely in 13 of his past 14 games. During that span he is batting .415 (22-for-53) with four doubles, a triple, three homers and 10 RBIs. Mancini is batting .359 in 21 games this month.

* Jonathan Schoop is batting .407 (11-for-27) his last seven games. Over his past 26 games, Schoop is batting .337 (33-for-98) with eight home runs and 27 RBIs.

* In his last 10 games, Seth Smith is batting .324 (12-for-37) with four doubles, two homers and four RBIs.

Mancini's 12 home runs are the most by an Orioles rookie prior to the All-Star break since Eddie Murray hit 13 in 1977. Only Murray and Curt Blefary (13 in 1965) have hit more home runs as Orioles rookies prior to the All-Star break.