"I hit it good, but [Bartlett] was right there," Izturis said. "He has been doing that all year long. He's a great defensive guy, and he made a great play. There's nothing you can do about it."
Roberts then grounded into a double play - for just the fourth time this season - to end the threat. The Orioles picked up one more hit, Roberts' homer, for the remainder of the game. Even right fielder Nick Markakis was shut down, going hitless in four at-bats to end his 11-game hitting streak and his 38-game streak of reaching base safely, which had been the longest active one in the majors.
The Rays' Pat Burrell and B.J. Upton each homered for the second consecutive night, and Ben Zobrist added his 20th of the season.
Tillman has allowed nine homers in five big league starts, and eight have been solo shots. He gave up just five homers in 18 starts for Triple-A Norfolk this season.
"I can't really knock myself too hard, because I am being aggressive," he said. "At the same time, I've got to make better pitches with 0-0 counts."
Tillman is following a trend that has haunted the entire staff. The Orioles as a team have served up an American League-worst 157 homers, including 30 in 18 August games.
Their opponents have homered 10 times in the past three nights, including three each against rookies David Hernandez, Jason Berken and Tillman.
"It probably is a broken record for me. With all due respect, what it is, is throwing the ball right down the middle of the plate," Trembley said. "They are learning some very hard lessons that hopefully will lend themselves to their becoming what we all feel they'll become, and that's very good pitchers. That's not to say they are not right now, but they've got a ways to go. They are doing OK."
Overall, Tillman threw fairly well after escaping a bases-loaded jam in a 31-pitch first inning without yielding a run. He threw 36 pitches total in his next three innings, and at one point retired nine in a row.
"A couple of guys told me that was my best start yet," Tillman said. "But like I said, I need to make those better 0-0 count pitches. They killed me on that tonight."
ORIOLES @RAYS
Tonight, 7:08
TV: MASN HD
Radio: 105.7 FM
INSIDE
For Scott, a first base tryout PG 5
