Burning bats in Baltimore

The Rays can win their first road series since early June tonight with a win over the Orioles here at Camden Yards, sending James Shields to the mound against Baltimore.

The Rays pounded the O's 15-8 here last night, highlighted by an 11-run eighth inning. Funny thing is that some Rays players didn't even know how many runs they put up in the inning, the most the Orioles have allowed in an inning since the Kennedy administration (May 11, 1962 against the Senators).

"We really put up that many?" Rays 1B Carlos Pena asked. "Oh my God."

The most interesting thing about the inning was that the Rays strung together nine hits -- all but one were singles -- and three walks. Seems like the the young Rays lineup -- which has relied on home runs heavily -- are finally grasping that the best rallies don't need the longball.

"When the students are ready, the teacher's going to be there," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

There's not much different about tonight's lineup. Why would you change it up after last night's season-high 15 runs?

The full lineup:
Iwamura, 3B
Crawford, LF
Pena, 1B
Upton, CF
Young, RF
Harris, 2B
Gomes, DH
Wilson, SS
Navarro, C