O's game blog: Orioles have allowed 17 runs in series against Tampa Bay

After losing by scores of 6-3 and 11-2 the past two nights against Tampa Bay, the Orioles need a win tonight to avoid being swept for the third time in their last four series.

They got swept four straight by Minnesota, then lost three of four at Kansas City, lost three in a row at Texas and now have lost the first two against the Rays.

The Orioles (63-69) have lost six in a row and 12 of 13 games. A loss tonight would give the Orioles their longest losing streak of the season and would drop them to seven games under .500, which would be a season high.

On Monday night, the Orioles fell behind 6-0 to the Rays in the sixth inning and Tampa Bay led 8-0 in the fifth last night. O's pitchers have allowed 17 runs to the Rays in this series. Starters Wei-Yin Chen and Chris Tillman have allowed 12 runs and 17 hits over 9 1/3 innings over the past two nights.

For the most part, the longball has disappeared for the Orioles recently. Since Aug. 20, they have just one multi-homer game in 13 games. They hit five homers in a win Aug. 26 at Kansas City. In the other 12 games, they have five combined home runs.

In this series, O's batters have scored just five runs on 14 hits, going 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The Orioles have scored just 12 runs during this six-game losing streak and have scored three runs or less in 12 of the last 13 games.

Kevin Gausman (2-6, 4.39 ERA) makes the start tonight and faces Rays right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (10-5, 3.68 ERA). In eight games and five starts this year at Camden Yards, Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA. In his five home starts, he is 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA, five quality starts and a .184 average against.

Ramirez is 2-2 with a 3.75 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break. In three career games (two starts) versus the Orioles, he is 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA. In 15 2/3 innings, he has allowed one walk with 11 strikeouts.

Some minor league hitting notes:

* Norfolk catcher Audry Perez extended his hitting streak to 11 games last night (.364, 16-for-44), including four multi-hit efforts.

* Bowie outfielder Mike Yastrzemski has hit safely in five of his last six games (.478, 11-for-23) with a double, two home runs, five RBIs, and seven runs scored.

* Frederick third sacker Derek Peterson has hit safely in six of his last seven games (.250, 7-for-28) with five RBIs and three runs.

* Delmarva outfielder Elier Leyva had his career-high 11-game hitting streak (.350/.395/.475) snapped after going 0-for-3 Tuesday.

* Aberdeen outfielder Cedric Mullins has hit safely in six of his last seven games (.400, 12-for-30) and is now 17-for-20 (85.0%) in stolen base attempts this season.