Rays 5, Orioles 4: Another lost series

It really seemed the Orioles were destined to lose this game. They'd already won one in the series, the Rays are a legitimate major league baseball team, and Brad Bergesen was on the mound. I'd really like to be able to have a little bit of faith in Bergesen, but I don't. As it goes, this was a pretty easy loss to digest. For one thing, my attention was divided as it's the middle of the day. For another, it wasn't the kind of loss where afterwards I can rattle off a dozen embarrassing miscues made by the team. It was the kind of loss that happens to normal teams. And finally, and I'm hesitant to say this, but you know what, whatever. And finally, I want the Rays to finish in first place in the AL East. I'd never root for the Orioles to lose to them, but when I check the scoreboard and see the Yankees beating the Angels and the Red Sox beathing the Athletics, I figure, eh. So be it.

Positives from today:

• Brad Bergesen really wasn't awful. That's a horrible "positive," I know, but Bergy is what he is and I accept him for it. It's never good to give up five runs in 5.1 innings, for sure, but the fact that he made it into the sixth inning will help the team going into the next series. And the Rays can hit. They're fourth in the AL in runs scored, and better pitchers than Bergy have been knocked around by Evan Longoria.
  
• After pitching 4.1 innings on Sunday, Mark Hendrickson turned in 2.1 good innings today, allowing just one hit. The starter on Sunday, Brian Matusz, only pitched 1.2 innings and he doesn't have to go again until this weekend.
  
• Trade bait Ty Wigginton had two hits on the day, both for extra bases. It's his second consecutive game with a home run.
  
• Luke Scott had another good game with a double, a single, and an RBI groundout. It was joked about in the gamethread, but he probably would love to be traded. Can't blame him.
  
• Adam Jones only had one hit on the day, a single, but that's now five straight games without a strikeout. His strikeout to walk ratio is absolutely disgusting, and although I'd rather it improve because he's taking more walks, at this point I'll take what I can get.
  

Negatives from today:

• Nick Markakis did have a double today, but he is still just swinging at everything. He hasn't walked since the All Star break and I'm starting to think they're getting to him. Nick, take your own advice, and go to the plate with a plan. Because you don't look like you have one.
  
• Corey Patterson inexplicably got the start in left field over Felix Pie and went 0-for-4 with a walk. It was the only walk by the Orioles today.
  
• Jason Berken is regressing or overworked or both, because he had his third consecutive subpar outing, this time walking in run.
  

The Twins come to town tomorrow for a four game series. That should be good. Or, you know, typical.