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Orioles-Rays Preview

Sep 30, 2009 - 5:46 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Baltimore (60-97) at Tampa Bay (81-76), 7:08 p.m. EDT

It appears the Baltimore Orioles will endure their first 100-loss season in 21 years, but ending their current losing streak is the more immediate concern.

The Orioles will try to avoid a 13th straight loss Wednesday as their series with the Tampa Bay Rays continues.

Baltimore (60-97) losing streak - the longest in the majors this season - continued with Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Tampa Bay (81-76).

"It has been very tough," designated hitter Ty Wigginton said. "You don't come into the season expecting to go through streaks like."

The Orioles have scored three or fewer runs in eight of the 12 losses. They had nine hits Tuesday, but only three after the third inning. Starter Jeremy Guthrie gave up two runs in the first as he suffered his major league-leading 17th loss.

Baltimore hasn't lost 13 in a row since a franchise record 21-game losing streak to start the 1988 season - also the last time the Orioles lost 100 games in a season.

"I talked to the ballclub and I said everybody is doing the very best they can. Everybody is playing hard and everybody's giving the best effort they can," manager Dave Trembley said. "Go do something nice for yourself tomorrow, come to the ballpark and we'll win."

Despite the two losses to Tampa Bay, Orioles rookie catcher Matt Wieters is 5 for 9 in the first half of this four-game set and hitting .426 during the losing streak.

Tuesday's win was Tampa Bay's third straight and eighth in 11 games. Willy Aybar had three hits and rookie Wade Davis allowed one run in seven innings for his second win.

Tampa Bay starters had a 7.24 ERA in the previous six games and Jeff Niemann had lasted only 3 1-3 innings in his start Monday.

Carl Crawford stole his 60th base this season, joining Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury (2009) and Chone Figgins (2005) of the Los Angeles Angels as the only AL players this decade to accomplish the feat.

Tampa Bay hands the ball to James Shields (10-12, 2.90 ERA), who has lost two of his last three starts. Shields, who won 14 games for the AL champs last season, gave up five runs in seven innings of an 8-3 loss to Texas on Friday.

"It's been a frustrating year for sure," he said. "You just tell yourself to move on. I hope to end the season on a good note."

Shields is 5-2 with a 2.89 ERA against the Orioles, splitting two starts this season.

David Hernandez (4-9, 5.20) counters for Baltimore, trying for his first win since Aug. 11 against Oakland.

Hernandez has gone 0-5 with a 7.34 ERA in the eight starts since. He gave up three runs in six innings of a 4-2 loss to Cleveland on Friday - Baltimore's eighth straight defeat with Hernandez on the mound.

The rookie right-hander lasted just three innings against Tampa Bay on Sept. 14, giving up five runs in an 8-4 defeat.