O's game blog: Orioles 8-1 after being shut out in 2014

The Orioles and Tampa Bay play the second game of their series and second of the O's road trip this afternoon at Tropicana Field. The Orioles were held to eight hits and shut out 3-0 by the Rays last night. The O's went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base. The Orioles had gone 9-for-20 with RISP in their sweep of the Reds. The Orioles are 8-1 in games after being shut out and have won six straight after being shut out. The Orioles have been blanked on the road three times (May 18 at Kansas City, Aug. 17 at Cleveland, and Sept. 5 at Tampa Bay). The Orioles are 33-21 (.611) against the American League East, posting the best in-division winning percentage in the AL (second-best in the majors). Per STATS, the Orioles' .611 winning percentage against the AL East would be their highest since posting a .628 mark (49-29) in 1980. Tampa Bay is now 68-74, including a 24-21 record since the All-Star break. That was the Rays' 19th shutout last night, extending their club record and tying St. Louis for the major league lead. The Rays pitching staff has 76 shutouts since 2010, most by an AL team over a five-year span since 1974-78 when the Orioles (78) and Rangers (76) both did it. The Orioles were led by Jim Palmer, who had 27 shutouts during that span, and the Rangers were led by Bert Blyleven, Gaylord Perry and Ferguson Jenkins. Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.93 ERA) pitches against left-hander Drew Smyly (9-10, 3.31). In six starts with Tampa Bay, Smyly is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA. He has given up just 21 hits over 41 2/3 innings and beat the Orioles on Aug. 27 when he gave up just two hits and one run over seven innings. Gausman has lost three straight starts, going 0-3 with an ERA of 4.96. His last win was Aug. 17 at Cleveland. In three starts in 2014 against the Rays, he is 1-2 with a 4.20 ERA. When the Rays scored three runs in the eighth inning to break a 0-0 tie Friday night, they ended an 18-inning scoreless stretch. Since June 30, the Orioles have the best record 40-19 (.678) in the majors. They begin today leading the division by 9 1/2 games and sitting three games behind the Angels for the best record in the majors.