Post-game Notes: O's come up short again

Not his night - O's starting and losing pitcher, David Hernandez, had another poor outing. Coming off his last two starts, he had pitched pretty well, with an ERA of 3.75. But tonight he gave up five runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. Over his last nine starts, Hernandez is 0-6, 7.65. The Orioles are 5-14 when he starts, losing the last nine in a row. Hernandez has lost two starts this season vs. Tampa, pitching a combined 7 1/3 innings and giving up 16 hits and 10ER. Winning pitcher James Shields is now 2-1, 1.74 in three starts this year vs. the O's and he is 6-2 lifetime in 15 career starts vs. Baltimore. The Orioles losing streak has reached 13 games since they beat Tampa, 4-2, September 16th. That's the 3rd longest streak in O's history, topped only by a 14-game streak in 1954 and 21-game streak in April of 1988. During the 13-game loss streak: *O's out-scored 85-39 *O's team average is .251 *Opponents average is .314 *O's team ERA is 6.65 *O's losses by two runs or less - 7 The Orioles are 0-9 on this ten-game road trip and have now lost 10 straight road games. That's the Birds longest road loss streak since 10 in a row from August 24-September 13, 2003. Most losses, O's history: 107 - 1988 100 - 1954 98 - 2009 & 2001 97 - 1955 The O's now would need to finish 3 and 1 to avoid the third 100-loss season in club history. The Orioles have lost 15 of the last 17 games, 21 of 27 and finished 6-20 in September. They are 20-50 since the All-Star break. Got Wiggy with it - Ty Wigginton blasted a pinch hit, two-run homer to left in the top of the 8th. It was his 11th homer of the year and just his second this season on the road. Over his last 11 games, Wigginton is batting .343 with three homers and 5 RBI. It was the O's second pinch homer of the year. Oscar Salazar hit one on June 30th vs. Boston. Matt Wieters went 1 for 4 with a ninth-inning single. Wieters is 6 for 12 in this series. Over his last 16 games, Wieters is batting .426 (26 for 61) with three homers and 14 RBI. Melvin Mora went 2 for 4 and is 5 for 12 over his last three games and is batting .286 over his last 25 contests. The O's have scored three runs or less nine times during the losing streak, going 0-9 in those games. They have scored three runs or less 33 times in 70 games in the second half and are 1-32 in those contests. O's basher - Tampa's Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer in the game, continuing to torment O's pitching. He is 22 for 55 (.400) this year vs. the Orioles with eight doubles, six homers and 17 RBI. Tampa clinched a second straight winning season with its 82nd victory. The Rays have won nine of 12 and ten of their past 15 games. Luke Scott went 1 for 3 but left the game with a strained left foot. The O's struggling bullpen has pitched 4 2/3 shutout frames over the last two games.