O's starters struggled against Rays as latest losing streak reaches five

The Orioles are trying to stop losing. But right now they can't, going 1-11 over the last 12 games. When they score some runs, they give up too many. When they need a clutch hit, they can't get it. When they need a key play in the field, they don't make it.

As a season spirals out of control everyone is frustrated - from the clubhouse to the stands to those tuning in all around Birdland. This has gone from bad to worse.

Will some changes be forthcoming? Are there changes that can even be made right now that can salvage a season that threatens to be over before 30 or 40 games are played?

After last night's game center fielder Adam Jones was the spokesman yet again for another loss. He agreed everyone is frustrated and said the team has to set small goals right now that could lead to wins. Just win a few innings.

"It starts with the small things," Jones said. "(Chris) Tillman goes up there (tonight) and (puts up) a crisp inning, and we're able to put up one or two runs to allow him to breathe and relax a little bit. We just need to do something to allow the starters to relax because they've been the ones who have been doing a really good job this year and the offense just hasn't picked them up."

The Orioles offense did produce 16 hits last night but they also went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The last six games the Orioles are 5-for-30 (.167) when batting with runners in scoring position. Trailing by four runs as the game moved into the later innings last night, the Orioles got five hits in the sixth through the eighth innings. But they hit into inning-ending double plays to end each frame. Frustrating.

O's pitchers allowed 17 runs the last two games versus a Tampa Bay team that has scored eight runs or more five consecutive games for the first time ever. O's pitching has allowed 50 runs over the last eight games.

The last two nights starting pitchers Alex Cobb and Dylan Bundy pitched a combined 9 1/3 innings allowing 21 hits and 13 runs. The rotation ERA increased from 5.04 to 5.54 in the two games versus Tampa Bay.

The Orioles current losing streak has reached five in a row. Just 25 games into this season the Orioles are 6-19 and have three losing streaks of at least five games.

The only worse start than this by any Orioles team since their first year of 1954 was in 1988 when that club started 0-21 and was 2-23 at this point in the season. That is not history worth chasing.

You have to figure this is going to get better at some point soon. But based on what we've seen over 25 games, when that will be is a fair question.