The disappearing offense
By Roch Kubatko
Tampa Bay pitching has retired the last 18 Oriole batters.
If not for one swing from Adam Jones, the Rays would be working on a shutout.
Andy Sonnanstine threw 99 pitches in five innings, but he escaped serious trouble in the first and second and benefited from the Rays' uprising against left-hander Brian Matusz in the fourth.
The Orioles couldn't make it 11 quality starts in 12 games under Buck Showalter. Matusz lasted only four innings and was charged with five runs and nine hits.
Showalter pulled him after 75 pitches.
Can you live in a world where Kelly Shoppach homers twice in the same game? He just took Alfredo Simon deep leading off the bottom of the eighth.
Shoppach hit 21 in 2008, but had only one this season. His five RBIs tie a career high.
Down on the farm, Lou Montanez is starting in right field tonight for Triple-A Norfolk after coming off the disabled list yesterday.
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