O's offense quiet until the ninth in loss to Rays (quotes added)

Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson gave the Orioles a quality start. But an offense that has been in a slumber for most of September was dormant again for most of tonight.

The Orioles were held to five hits through eight innings and lost to Tampa Bay 9-6 in front of 42,802 at Camden Yards. The loss guarantees that the Orioles will have a losing season for the first time since 2011. They are 74-82 with six games to go. They were also officially eliminated from the American League wild card race.

Down 9-1 heading to the last of the ninth, the Orioles produced a big rally, but would have needed a massive one. Still, they scored five runs on seven hits and forced Tampa Bay to bring on closer Alex Colomé to get the last out. The inning featured a Welington Castillo RBI double, Austin Hays' two-run double, and RBI singles by Manny Machado and Chris Davis.

Hellickson had a unique night, one where he gave up three straight hits and three runs in the top of the third. But he yielded one hit and no runs in five other innings.

With two outs and no one on in the Tampa Bay third, Adeiny Hechavarria singled. He went to third on Kevin Kiermaier's hit-and-run single. They both scored when first baseman Lucas Duda lined a homer onto the flag court in right. He hit No. 30 on a 3-2 pitch from Hellickson. He lined the ball 108 mph and that made him 8-for-16 with three career homers off the O's right-hander.

But Hellickson yielded no runs to the Rays before or after that inning. Over six innings, he gave up four hits and the three runs with one walk and four strikeouts. He falls to 2-6 with an ERA of 6.97 in 11 starts with the Orioles. He has given up seven homers in 24 2/3 innings at Oriole Park.

Leading 3-1, Tampa Bay added two unearned runs in the seventh against Richard Bleier. Third baseman Machado and right fielder Hays made errors as the Rays scored twice on one hit. Hays would later make an amazing catch, leaping into the fence in right to end that inning.

The O's did take a 1-0 lead in the first tonight. Jonathan Schoop hit his 34th double, went to third on a single and scored on an error. Trey Mancini extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games with a single in the seventh.

Tampa Bay completed its scoring with four in the ninth against Mike Wright, including Logan Morrison's 37th home run.

Tonight's attendance pushed the Orioles season attendance past the 2,000,000 mark for the sixth straight year.

The Orioles are now 45-35 at home. They conclude this series and their home schedule on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Dylan Bundy (13-9, 4.24) faces right-hander Chris Archer (9-11, 4.02 ERA).

Postgame quotes:

Hellickson on his outing: "I felt good. But that has happened way too many times this year. (A rally with) two outs, nobody on. I just can't get that third out for some reason. Duda has always given me trouble. Made seven or eight good pitches and then a mistake I make he doesn't miss. But other than those three batters, felt like command was where it should be."

Hellickson got dialed in after three-run third: "Just got to make better pitches with two outs. Leave a fastball over the middle to Hechavarria and then don't get a fastball in to Kiermaier and then had to face Duda with two on. Have to bear down and get that third out."

Hays on his great catch in the seventh: "I mean, he hit it pretty well. So I put my head down and started running. Just tracking the ball. Took a peek to see where the fence was and I saw I was getting close. I just jumped and put my glove up to squeeze it and catch it."

Hays on whether that was best catch he's ever made: "I would say it's definitely up there."