As the Orioles? third reliever of the eighth inning loosened on the mound, the Oriole Park at Camden Yards scoreboard zoomed in closely on the moon. A full moon. It seems as if the same moon has been looming over Camden Yards for a week.
The Orioles (58-72) allowed 11 runs in the eighth inning to extend their losing streak to seven. Tampa Bay (52-80) overcame six Orioles homers to win, 15-8, before an announced crowd of 17,781.
Jim Hoey (1-3) allowed five runs in 1/3 an inning to begin the prolific eighth inning ? which lasted one hour, one minute and 46 seconds.
If O?s first baseman Kevin Millar didn?t know everyone in the Tampa Bay lineup before, he had the chance to meet tem all in the eighth inning as 12-straight batters reached base.
Jonny Gomes and Brendan Harris scored twice. Joel Guzman scored as a pinch runner before striking out to end the frame.
It was reminiscent of the Texas Rangers outburst in a 30-3 win over the Orioles one week earlier.
“When the inning started, I said, ?Please, God, don?t start another one,?” shortstop Miguel Tejada said.
The 11-run inning ties a Devil Rays? team record and an Orioles record for a home game. The Orioles allowed 11 runs on May 11, 1962 against the Washington Senators ? now the Texas Rangers ? at Memorial Stadium ? now a housing complex.
During the seven-game losing streak, the Orioles bullpen has earned a 22.29 ERA in 21 innings of work. On the homestand, the O?s relievers have amassed a 20.35 ERA in 23 innings.
Kurt Birkins, recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, had the most success. The left-hander allowed one hit, one run and struck out three in 1.1 innings.
Tampa Bay?s outburst ruined a six-homer night that saw the Orioles? first back-to-back homers of the season ? which happened twice on the night. Tejada followed Nick Markakis? 14th homer of the season in the first with his 15th before leading off the eighth with No. 16. Two pitches later, Millar followed Tejada?s 16th with his 13th home run of the season.
Ramon Hernandez snapped an 0-for-26 skid with his sixth home run of the season ? his first since July 16.
O?s starter Daniel Cabrera struck out eight in six innings, scattering five hits and three runs.
NOTES: The Orioles will send seven players to the Arizona Fall League to play with the Phoenix Desert Dogs, which will be comprised of players from Oakland, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and the Chicago White Sox. Triple-A pitchers Hayden Penn and Jim Johnson will be joined by Double-A reliever Bob McCrory and fifth-round pick Jake Arrieta. Three Double-A position players will play, including infielder Paco Figueroa and outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and Nolan Reimold.
