masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgJeremy Guthrie entered his start today at Camden Yards with a run of seven consecutive quality starts against Tampa Bay. He also had given up just three runs total in three home starts this season.

But this afternoon, Guthrie allowed three-run homers to Evan Longoria and B.J Upton as Tampa routed the Birds 8-2 in front of 18,961.

Prior to today, Guthrie was 9-8 with an ERA of 2.93 in 20 starts since last season’s All-Star break. Plus, he pitched eight shutout innings versus Tampa on opening…Jeremy Guthrie entered his start today at Camden Yards with a run of seven consecutive quality starts against Tampa Bay. He also had given up just three runs total in three home starts this season.

But this afternoon, Guthrie allowed three-run homers to Evan Longoria and B.J Upton as Tampa routed the Birds 8-2 in front of 18,961.

Prior to today, Guthrie was 9-8 with an ERA of 2.93 in 20 starts since last season’s All-Star break. Plus, he pitched eight shutout innings versus Tampa on opening night. But today, he gave up seven runs and 10 hits over five innings. It ties for his shortest outing of the year, and he is now 1-5 with an ERA of 4.09 and winless since the first game of the season. His seven earned runs allowed matched his career high.

The Orioles did not score for him in yet another outing where he doesn’t get many – or in this case, any – runs to work with. They have scored just six runs while he has been in the game over his last six starts. Nick Markakis’ RBI infield hit came in the last of the seventh to avoid a shutout but after Guthrie had exited. Markakis added a sac fly in the ninth.

Tampa came to Baltimore with just one win over its last eight games against the Orioles, but the Rays have won the first two in this series by a combined 14-4 score.

The Orioles have been held to three runs or fewer 17 times this year and are 2-15 in those games. They have lost five of the last six to fall to 14-18 on the year.

Tampa is now 18-6 since April 11th and that is the best record in the majors since then. The Rays have won seven in a row on the road and their 10-4 road mark is the best of any AL team.

In Sunday’s series finale here at 1:35 p.m., it’s Brad Bergesen (0-3, 4.76) against Tampa’s Wade Davis (3-2, 2.77).