masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have their first two-game losing streak since Buck Showalter took over as manager.

The Birds lost 3-2 vs. Tampa this afternoon to lose their first series with Showalter and end their road trip to Cleveland and Tampa with a 3-3 record. They were trying for a fourth straight series win for the first time since August of 2004.

Jeremy Hellickson got the win and Jake Arrieta the loss in a matchup of two of the game’s best, young pitchers.

Hellickson became the first Tampa pitcher to…The Orioles have their first two-game losing streak since Buck Showalter took over as manager.

The Birds lost 3-2 vs. Tampa this afternoon to lose their first series with Showalter and end their road trip to Cleveland and Tampa with a 3-3 record. They were trying for a fourth straight series win for the first time since August of 2004.

Jeremy Hellickson got the win and Jake Arrieta the loss in a matchup of two of the game’s best, young pitchers.

Hellickson became the first Tampa pitcher to win his first three Major League starts. He gave up just three hits and one run over six innings, throwing 97 pitches. He has allowed just 3 ER over 20 innings in three big league starts for an ERA of 1.35.

Rafael Soriano pitched a 1-2-3, 9th for his 33rd save.

Buck Showalter meets with Jim Hunter and Mike Flanagan following the O’s 3-2 loss

Arrieta, now 4-4, 5.23, gave up six hits and three runs over six innings. He threw 114 pitches, 63 for strikes. It was the O’s 10th quality start over the last 12 games and Baltimore starters have pitched to an ERA of 2.84 over that time.

The O’s were 4-0 in one-run games under Showalter until this defeat.

After Carl Crawford hit a solo homer in the last of the first, the O’s tied it at one in the second. Luke Scott hit a leadoff double and scored on a Felix Pie sac fly.

Crawford and Matt Joyce drove in runs in the third as Tampa took a 3-1 lead. The O’s pulled to within 3-2 when Jake Fox homered to left off Dan Wheeler in the top of the seventh.

The O’s went 0 for 4on the day batting with runners in scoring position after going 1 for 8 on Saturday. They scored five runs on 12 hits in beating Tampa on Friday, but produced just five runs on nine hits the last two days there.

They are now 9-4 under Showalter, 11-37 vs. the AL East and 41-77 on the year.

The Birds host Seattle on Monday to begin a seven-game homestand.