Apparently, the Kansas City Royals' strategy last night was to lull the Orioles into a false sense of security.
After five innings, the game was scoreless. But as dejected as the Orioles' hitters were feeling, the Royals were enduring the longest scoreless streak in franchise history.
It covered 32 innings. Kansas City hadn't scored since the Fourth of July.
So when the Royals scored four runs in the sixth inning, you half expected fireworks, and the Orioles continued looking helpless in a 7-0 loss before 43,947 at Camden Yards.
"We didn't swing the bats at all tonight," said Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli. "We didn't seem like ourselves out there."
Kansas City, which had been outscored 25-0 in its previous series in Minnesota, broke its eight-game losing streak, and the Orioles extended a dreadful streak of their own.
Not only have they lost three consecutive games to fall back to a season-worst 11 games under .500 at 36-47, but they also haven't scored in 24 innings against the opposing starting pitcher.
And it's not like they just faced Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens.
The trio that has left the Orioles shooting blanks are Rob Bell and Mark Hendrickson - both of Tampa Bay Devil Rays fame - and last night's winner, Darrell May.
May (6-9) looked much better than the last time the Orioles faced him. On June 28 in Kansas City, they got to the left-hander for six earned runs in six innings in a 10-1 rout.
"I think I had a pretty good read on them," May said. "I was fortunate to get ground balls in key situations."
May didn't allow a runner to reach second base. The Orioles managed just five hits, and their record against left-handed starters fell to 9-18.
"It's not from a lack of effort," said Orioles right fielder Jerry Hairston. "If anything, guys are trying too hard. It's frustrating. It is."
Orioles starter Erik Bedard (3-3) looked terrific for five innings, shutting out the Royals on 76 pitches. But he hurt himself in the sixth the way so may Orioles pitchers have this season - with walks.
The inning started with a walk by Desi Relaford. And with one out, Bedard walked Ruben Mateo. Both of those runners eventually scored.
The Royals hadn't scored a run since Ken Harvey hit a ninth-inning home run on Sunday. Their previous record for consecutive scoreless innings was 30, which they set in May 1981 and matched in September 1985.
