BALTIMORE _ The Orioles have remained atop the American League East standings despite an offense that has yet to truly find its footing this season. Yes, they've had their share of timely hits to pull out close games, but pitching has kept the Orioles in first place, and their bats hit a new low on Tuesday night in a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Orioles (13-6) were held to just two hits _ hitting just four balls out of the infield in a game that the Rays were content to pitch out of the bullpen.
In being dealt their first shutout loss of the season, the Orioles wasted a third consecutive quality start by left-hander Wade Miley, who went seven innings despite walking six batters.
After Tuesday's defeat, they have scored three or fewer runs in six of their past eight games, averaging just 2.6 runs over that span.
The Orioles again are seemingly dependent on the home-run ball. They have won 10 of 11 this season when they homer, and are 3-5 when they don't.
They were held to just two hits Tuesday night, none after Jonathan Schoop's one-out double in the second. After that hit, 23 of the final 25 Orioles hitters were retired.
They were shut out by five different Tampa Bay pitchers, including rookie right-hander Austin Pruitt, who threw three shutout innings as an 11th-hour fill-in making his first major league start.
The Tampa Bay bullpen retired 18 of 19 Orioles after Danny Farquhar allowed a single by Chris Davis, the first batter he faced.
The Orioles still managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth when Davis drew a two-out walk, but Rays closer Alex Colome struck out Mark Trumbo to end the game.
Miley (1-1) walked six batters over seven innings and allowed two runs _ both runs scored against him reaching base on walks _ but held Tampa Bay to four hits and recorded eight strikeouts. He allowed just one hit _ two baserunners _ over his final three innings.
Over his previous two outings, Miley walked just one batter over 14 innings after walking five in his five-inning season debut April 9.
Despite his wavering control, Miley has a 2.08 ERA through four starts this season.
Miley issued back-to-back one-out walks to Rickie Weeks, Jr. and Logan Morrison, then allowed an RBI single up the middle to Tim Beckham and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Derek Norris.
