masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles and Rays played their 300th game against each other last night and the all-time series is tied 150-150.
There’s a lot on the line tonight. Tension hangs heavy beneath the dome.
The season series is knotted at 2-2. The Orioles are batting .171 and the Rays are batting .185.
The Orioles have been shut out twice this season – both times by 2-0 scores in the last two games at Tropicana Field. But the Orioles are 0-1 when they’re the home team.
Since the start of…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles and Rays played their 300th game against each other last night and the all-time series is tied 150-150.

There’s a lot on the line tonight. Tension hangs heavy beneath the dome.

The season series is knotted at 2-2. The Orioles are batting .171 and the Rays are batting .185.

The Orioles have been shut out twice this season – both times by 2-0 scores in the last two games at Tropicana Field. But the Orioles are 0-1 when they’re the home team.

Since the start of the 2014 season, the Rays have been held to three runs or fewer in 15 of the 23 games.

The Orioles are 19-2 in their last 21 games when allowing two runs or fewer.

In case you weren’t here to enjoy it, the Oriole Bird danced with a fan on top of the third base dugout during John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” and Raymond and DJ Kitty danced on top of the first base dugout.

The entire night was a funny, funny riddle.

Orioles starters have posted quality starts in four consecutive games after Chris Tillman allowed two runs over seven innings last night. They’ve worked at least six innings in five straight games.

The rotation’s ERA has dropped to 4.90 in 21 games, ranked 23rd in the majors. It used to be at the bottom.

Tillman fell to 13-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 27 career starts with at least six days rest. As usual, a two-out walk came back to bite the Orioles, with Tillman’s free pass to Asdrubal Cabrera in the fourth inning followed by an RBI double by Evan Longoria and RBI single by James Loney.

joseph-looking-over-in-gear-white-sidebar.jpg“He made a lot of really good pitches, a lot of nice pitches,” said catcher Caleb Joseph. “What did he give up, three hits? I know he probably wants the curveball to Loney back there, but he threw the ball really well. Longo hit a nice pitch down and in. He executed it really nice off the plate. Just one of those games where I think he pitched a lot better than the outcome shows. He pitched well enough to get a W today.

“That’s pretty much vintage Tilly of what we’ve seen the last three, four years. He did a really nice job, kept us in the game.”

Joseph was the only Oriole who didn’t strike out last night. Chris Davis whiffed in all three at-bats to raise his total to 32, tying him with the Nationals’ Bryce Harper for fifth-most in the majors. Harper has played four more games.

I’m surprised to find that the Orioles rank only 14th in the majors with 172 strikeouts, but they’ve had two games postponed. The Astros are first with 218.

Tommy Hunter retired the Rays in order in the ninth inning and hasn’t been scored upon in his last five appearances, his ERA shrinking from 14.73 to 5.79 in 9 1/3 innings.

If you think Steve Pearce’s start at second base was a one-night stand, guess again. The Orioles are evaluating him at the position while waiting for Jonathan Schoop to come off the disabled list.

machado-throws-white-sidebar.jpgThey aren’t particularly comfortable with Jimmy Paredes at second base, and he’s morphing into a full-time designated hitter. Rey Navarro is an upgrade over Paredes in the field, but his failure to make a couple of plays hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Pearce’s biggest challenge may be learning where to set up for a relay and remembering to back up first base, which he failed to do last night on Manny Machado’s throwing error.

Machado fielded David DeJesus’ bouncer in the eighth, staying back on the ball, and airmailed his throw to Davis. Machado’s six errors are tied for fifth in the majors with Oakland’s Marcus Semien. The Nationals’ Ian Desmond is first with nine.

Machado’s errors are confined to his last nine games beginning on April 20 in Boston.