"We have a lot of self-pride, and we want to do it for the coaches who are working their tails off and trying to do the best they can to put us in position to win," said starter Jeremy Guthrie, who gave up three runs (two in the first) in seven solid innings, but ultimately was saddled with his 17th loss, four more than any other pitcher in the American League. "It's not happening. But if you look around here, I think you've got 30-plus guys that are trying their very best and haven't cashed it in, regardless of the results."
The skid started Sept. 17, when Davis, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball Tuesday night, threw a shutout at Camden Yards. During the stretch, the Orioles (60-97) have been held to three runs or fewer eight times in 12 games. Tuesday night, they had 12 base runners but managed only one run - on Luke Scott's single in the third inning.
They likely would have tied the game later in the inning, but Wigginton was thrown out by Rays catcher and former teammate Gregg Zaun trying to steal third. Matt Wieters, the next man up, hit a single, making Wigginton look worse.
"I don't want to speak for Wigginton," Trembley said. Third base coach Juan Samuel's "not responsible ... and I'm not responsible for the base running there. I'm not trying to skirt the issue. We asked him the explanation and he said he saw the ball go into the dirt and he thought he had a shot at going to third. ... What he did is, he reacted to something that he thought, not what he saw."
Wigginton, who also was thrown out trying to score on Wieters' first-inning single, said he thought that if he got a good secondary lead and there was a curveball in the dirt, he would take advantage. "It's usually going to kick up high and get away," he said. "Instead, Zaunnie scooped it and it looks like a bad play."
Earlier in the inning, Roberts hit a double, his 56th of the season, to break the major league record, held by the Houston Astros' Lance Berkman in 2001, for doubles by a switch-hitter. But it was hard for Roberts to take any joy from it.
"The unfortunate part of it is, we've had some good things to look at this year and we're in something that's not fun to look at," Roberts said. "I think it's detracted from some of the positives that we've had this season."
Orioles' longest losing streaks
Games Year Dates
21 1988 April 4-28
14 1954 Aug. 11-25
12 2009 Sept.17-now
12 2004 Aug. 16-28
12 2002 Sept. 18-29
Box score
for Tuesday's game PG 4
