masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – According to STATS Inc, tonight’s game between the Orioles and Rays marks the fifth time since 2007 that the host team has batted first.
* July 23, 2013: The Giants batted first at Pack Bell Park against the Reds in Game 2 of a doubleheader that was a makeup game rained out on July 4 in Cincinnati. The Giants won 5-3.
* June 24-26, 2011: A three-game series was relocated from Sun Life Stadium to Safeco Field due to a conflict with a U2 concert. The Mariners took two of…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – According to STATS Inc, tonight’s game between the Orioles and Rays marks the fifth time since 2007 that the host team has batted first.

Rays Opening Day.png* July 23, 2013: The Giants batted first at Pack Bell Park against the Reds in Game 2 of a doubleheader that was a makeup game rained out on July 4 in Cincinnati. The Giants won 5-3.

* June 24-26, 2011: A three-game series was relocated from Sun Life Stadium to Safeco Field due to a conflict with a U2 concert. The Mariners took two of three games from the Marlins.

* June 25-27, 2010: A three-game series was relocated from Rogers Centre to Citizens Bank Park following security concerns with the G20 Summit in Toronto. The Phillies took two of three games from the Blue Jays.

*Sept. 26, 2007: The Mariners batted first at Safeco Field against the Indians in Game 1 of a doubleheader that was a makeup of a postponed game in April in Cleveland. The Indians won 12-4.

The Rays are averaging 17,545 fans in 12 home dates this season.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy accompanied the Orioles to Florida and worked out at Tropicana Field before batting practice. He fielded ground balls and threw to the bases. Steve Pearce served as the second baseman, taking throws at the bag and firing to first for the imaginary double play, or fielding the grounders and flipping to Hardy, who fired to first.

Hardy hopes to go on an injury rehab assignment next week.

Pearce served as the second baseman for Hardy during the early workout and also wil be the starting second baseman for tonight’s game. As noted in an earlier entry, he’s batting .314/.426/.667 in 16 games at Tropicana Field. Pearce has never played second base in the majors or minors (but did appear at one game at shortstop for Triple-A Indianapolis in 2011).

Bud Norris and Brad Brach kicked a soccer ball in center field. The Orioles were making themselves at home.

For the Orioles
Alejandro De Aza LF
Jimmy Paredes DH
Delmon Young RF
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Steve Pearce 2B
Manny Machado 3B
Everth Cabrera SS
Caleb Joseph C

Chris Tillman RHP

For the Rays
David DeJesus DH
Steven Souza Jr. RF
Asdrubal Cabrera SS
Evan Longoria 3B
James Loney 1B
Logan Forsythe 2B
Keven Kiermaier CF
Brandon Guyer LF
Rene Rivera C

Alex Colome RHP