O's split first two at Tampa, try for series today at 11:00am

The first two games of the O's series at Tampa are a study in contrast. Jim Bradley, the legendary high school football coach once responded to a reporter question after a loss. "We played just well enough to lose," he explained.

On Monday night in Tampa the O's played just well enough to lose. There were many reasons for the 5-4 loss. It is counter-productive for teams to point fingers. However, it is harder to improve your team without some examination of cause and effect that causes a team to play just well enough to lose.

The bottom third of the O's lineup is an ongoing problem. There is just no other way to put it Ryan Flaherty, Caleb Joseph, and David Lough are the place in the batting order where rallies go to die.

Brian Matusz came into the game to hold the Rays and failed, surrendering a key homerun. In the end the O's blew a lead and lost a very winnable game.

Last night it was the O's we all continue to believe in. They played well enough to win. The O's hung a five spot on former O, the well-travelled Eric Bedard in the third. And despite a less than stellar outing from Miguel Gonzales, the O's added two more runs in the seventh, finding the route to a 7-5 win.

Chris Davis hit a grand slam home run in the third, a towering opposite field shot that hit the pole. His stroke continues to look more and more balanced as he continues to get pitched mostly hard in and soft away. Davis faces pronounced shifts in every at bat with the defenses tilting dramatically to the right side making it very difficult to hit safely on the ground to right.

Buck Showalter once again shook up the bottom third of the order with Manny Machado going back to the seven hole and Jonathan Schoop hitting in the eight hole. Along with Caleb Joseph, each man contributed singles to the offense.

Steve Pearce continues to shine in the two hole with two walks and two hits including a homer in the seventh in five trips to the dish last night. Both Pearce and Delmon Young give the O's a productive 1-2 punch at DH.

The O's will be back at it early today with an 11:10 first pitch to decide which team takes the series. The O's send Kevin Gausman to the bump today.