Rookie right-hander David Hernandez is next in line to stop
the misery for the Baltimore Orioles tonight, when they visit Tropicana Field
in the third test of a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Baltimore has dropped the initial two games of the series with Tampa Bay,
extending its overall losing streak to 12 games - the longest for the
franchise since 2004.
Three more losses this season guarantee the Orioles their first 100-loss
season since 1988.
Hernandez, a 24-year-old native of Sacramento, California, was 4-4 on the
season after a 3-2 win against Oakland on August 11, in which he allowed two
runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings.
He's winless in eight appearances since, however, plummeting to 4-9 with a 4-2
loss at Cleveland in his last start on September 25.
Hernandez faced the Rays once in the stretch, losing an 8-4 decision in
Baltimore on September 14.
He is 2-5 in 10 road appearances in 2009 and the Orioles are 5-14 in
games he's pitched.
For the Rays, right-hander James Shields makes his 15th career start against
Baltimore.
The 27-year-old Californian is 5-2 lifetime against the Orioles, posting a
2.89 earned run average in 96 2/3 innings.
He dropped an 8-7 verdict in his last matchup, however, allowing seven hits
and four runs in 5 2/3 innings on August 20.
Shields has been uneven as a rule in his last 10 starts, winning four and
losing five while allowing three runs or less three times and more than a hit
per inning six times.
He is 5-6 in 17 home starts.
On Tuesday, Willy Aybar went 3-for-4 with a run batted in, while Wade Davis
pitched seven innings of one-run ball, as the Rays earned a 3-1 victory.
Ben Zobrist knocked in a run and scored once for the Rays, who won the series
opener, 7-6, on Monday. B.J. Upton had an RBI for the Tampa Bay, which has won
three in a row and eight of 11.
Davis (2-1) gave up seven hits while striking out three and walking three.
Over five starts in September, Davis has allowed just 27 hits and 12 earned
runs in 31 1/3 innings, with 31 strikeouts.
Grant Balfour recorded the final two outs in the ninth to pick up his third
save of the year.
Luke Scott drove in the lone run for the Orioles, while Matt Wieters had a
pair of hits in defeat.
Jeremy Guthrie (10-17) went seven frames, giving up three runs on seven hits
with four strikeouts and a walk to take the loss.
The former first-round draft choice - 22nd overall, 2002 - has lost four
consecutive starts since tying his career best with a 10th win of the season
on September 6.
The Rays have won nine of 16 games with the Orioles this season and five of
seven matchups at Tropicana Field.
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