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Orioles aim to snap seven-game losing streak

Aug 29, 2007 - 2:30 PM Tampa Bay (52-80) at Baltimore (58-72) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - The Baltimore Orioles are finding new ways to lose seemingly every week. The Orioles hope to end their losing ways as they continue their series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Wednesday.

Despite tying a club record with a six-homer outburst on Tuesday, the Orioles could not hold an 8-3 lead to start the eighth inning when their bullpen allowed 11 runs in the top half of the frame.

This effort came just six days after Baltimore surrendered an AL-record 30 runs in the first game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers last Wednesday. Since then, Baltimore has dropped seven straight contests by a combined score of 84-28.

In order to turn things around, the Orioles will need Steve Trachsel (6-8, 4.61 ERA) to do something he has done just once since June 8 - win. He was sharp in his last turn on Thursday against Minnesota - yielding two runs and four hits over 7 1/3 innings in a 5-2 setback.

His track record against Tampa Bay does not bode well for him, however, as the righthander is 0-3 with a 7.17 ERA in four career starts against the Devil Rays.

The news gets worse because James Shields (10-8, 4.09) has dominated the American League this month. In five August starts, he is 2-2 with a 2.38 ERA - averaging a strikeout per inning.

In Friday's 12-2 win over Oakland, the righthander allowed two runs and nine hits - striking out eight - over 8 1/3 innings. He is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA in five career starts against Baltimore.