O's offense slowed again in 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay

The Orioles are still looking to get their suddenly cold bats going. That, along with a poorly located 0-2 pitch, led to their latest loss tonight. After winning their first three series against American League East opponents, the Orioles will not win this series.

Since their 7-0 start, the Orioles are 4-8 after falling tonight 3-1 to Tampa Bay. The Orioles are 1-4 on this six-game road trip. In the four losses on the trip the Orioles have scored four total runs. In the eight losses since the 7-0 start, the Orioles have scored just 16 runs. The Orioles have scored just one run over their last 26 innings.

Tampa Bay broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth on Kevin Kiermaier's two-out, two-run homer to right. O's starter Ubaldo Jimenez got the first two batters out that inning but Steven Souza Jr. singled ahead of the homer. Jimenez had an 0-2 count on Kiermaier but threw a 91 mph fastball that found the middle of the plate and was too good of a pitch to throw at 0-2 in the count.

Jimenez went six innings, allowing six hits and those three runs with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw 102 pitches but falls to 1-2 with an ERA of 3.91.

Tonight Jimenez gave the Orioles just their fourth quality start of the 2016 season. O's starting pitchers began today with an ERA of 5.12 to rank 13th in the AL. Baltimore starters allowed just three runs in the first two games of this series but the team lost both games.

Both teams had several scoring chances in the early innings, but did little with them. The Rays finally took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third after going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring positon the first two innings. But even there Jimenez could have given up more. Tampa Bay had runners on second and third with no outs. Desmond Jennings' sac fly with one out made it 1-0.

The Orioles tied it 1-1 in the fourth but could have had much more then. Chris Davis looped a double down the third base line. Mark Trumbo singled to left to tie it 1-1. It was his 17th RBI, all of which have come in road games. The O's loaded the bases with no outs, but Jonathan Schoop popped to second and Caleb Joseph grounded into a double play.

After being outscored 5-1 in this series, the Orioles fall to 11-8 and have their first three-game losing streak of 2016. Tampa Bay has won seven of 10 games to get to .500 at 10-10.

The Orioles, now 6-4 versus the AL East, will need to win Wednesday night to avoid a three-game sweep and 1-5 road trip. Chris Tillman (1-1, 4.42 ERA) faces left-hander Matt Moore (1-1, 3.60 ERA).