O's game blog: O's look for road series win at the Trop

When the Orioles play the series finale tonight at Tropicana Field versus the Rays, they have a chance to get a rare road series win. The Orioles have played 18 road series on the season, winning just three, going 3-13-2.

After splitting the first two games in this series, tonight's winner will take two of three. The Orioles lost in walk-off fashion 4-3 on Tuesday night. Last night Trey Mancini's two-run double in the ninth provided a 5-4 win.

The Orioles won a road series April 5-8, taking three of four at Yankee Stadium. Also June 5-6, when they swept two at the New York Mets, and June 22-24, when they went 2-1 at Atlanta.

The Orioles are 35-79 overall with 48 games to play, and 15-44 on the road. They are 7-10 since the All-Star break, but 7-6 over their past 13 games. Tampa Bay is 57-57 and 33-24 at home. A loss tonight would drop the Rays under the .500 mark for the first time since July 6 (43-44). The Orioles are 8-7 against the Rays for the season and 2-3 on the road.

The Rays are 7-7 in their last 14 home games after going 14-1 June 11-July 11. For Tampa Bay, this is the final series of a nine-game homestand against the Angels (3-0), White Sox (0-3) and Orioles (1-1). The Rays are 18-18-0 in series play, including 11-7-0 in series play at home. They have swept eight series and been swept seven times - 41.7 percent of their series have resulted in a sweep.

The Rays are 21-27 (.438) in one-run games this season, leading the majors in one-run games and one-run losses. Tampa Bay has played five consecutive one-run games for the third time this season. The longest streak in team history is six straight, Sept. 12-18, 2010. The Rays are on pace for 37 losses by a run, which hasn't been done by an American League club since the 1968 White Sox (44). The club record for such losses in a single season is 30 (2015).

The Orioles committed five errors in last night's win, their first game in which they committed at least five errors since June 17, 1999 at the Chicago White Sox. It was their first win in which they had at least five errors since June 9, 1983 versus Milwaukee (six errors). It was the 16th time in Orioles history in which they have committed at least five errors in a game. They are 6-10 in those games.

The Orioles have scored 98 runs in 15 games against Tampa Bay this season (6.53 per game). This is their highest runs-per-game average against an opponent they have played more than three games against. The Orioles hit three home runs in last night's game to bring their season total against Tampa Bay to 31. The Orioles club record for home runs against one opponent in a single season is 32, done three different times (2013-Toronto, 2012-Toronto and 1966-Detroit).

On the mound tonight, right-hander David Hess (2-6, 6.41 ERA) faces right-hander Hunter Wood (0-0, 3.22 ERA). While Hess has pitched to an ERA of 11.14 over his last five big league starts, he has thrown well this year versus Tampa Bay. In three games (two starts), he is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA, allowing three runs in 13 2/3 innings. Wood has made five starts as an "opener," going 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA.