The Orioles can't get their pitching and hitting on the same page.
Early in the season, Baltimore's young rotation pushed the team to an unlikely start. Then, as the pitching began to tail off and the weather warmed up, so did the offense -- as the Orioles became the best hitting team in the American League in July and August. Suddenly, the offense is gone again, with the starting pitching taking the spotlight again.
In the last seven days, the Orioles are hitting just .216 with one home run, and averaging under 2.5 runs per game. The pitching staff, meanwhile, is throwing to a 3.98 ERA.
That may have begun to change in Tuesday's second game. The bullpen allowed four runs before recording an out in the eighth inning during a game in which the offense put together 10 hits.
RAYS 5, ORIOLES 2 (first game): The bottom four batters in the Tampa Bay lineup went 9-for-15 with five runs and three RBIs. Aside from Lou Montanez's two-run homer in the second inning, Rays starter James Shields and two relievers didn't allow a run.
RAYS 7, ORIOLES 5 (second game): The Orioles got seven-plus strong innings in the first major league start for Alfredo Simon, but the Rays scored six runs in the eighth inning for the doubleheader sweep.
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