masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Nick Markakis doubled off the top of the fence in left field tonight leading off the sixth inning, giving him 1,455 career hits to tie Ken Singleton for sixth place on the Orioles’ all-time list.

Once Markakis passes Singleton, he can take aim at Boog Powell, who ranks fifth with 1,574 hits. Brady Anderson is fourth with 1,614.

Markakis is 4-for-6 lifetime against Rays starter Jake Odorizzi.

Markakis came close to breaking up Odorizzi’s shutout bid with a home run….ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Nick Markakis doubled off the top of the fence in left field tonight leading off the sixth inning, giving him 1,455 career hits to tie Ken Singleton for sixth place on the Orioles’ all-time list.

Once Markakis passes Singleton, he can take aim at Boog Powell, who ranks fifth with 1,574 hits. Brady Anderson is fourth with 1,614.

Markakis is 4-for-6 lifetime against Rays starter Jake Odorizzi.

Markakis came close to breaking up Odorizzi’s shutout bid with a home run. Adam Jones handled that task.

Jones’ two-run shot to deep left field reduced Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-2 and concluded Odorizzi’s night.

Jones has homered in back-to-back games for the first time this season to raise his season total to 12. He did it five times in 2013, including a career-high four straight from May 23-26.

Wei-Yin Chen has retired six Rays in a row and seven of eight. He’s thrown 99 pitches, 68 for strikes.

Josh Stinson began to warm in the sixth, but he sat down after Chen retired Logan Forsythe. Chen would give the Orioles their eighth consecutive quality start if he doesn’t allow another run.

The rotation has registered a 1.88 ERA in the last eight games, allowing 11 earned runs over 52 2/3 innings.

Update: Chen goes 6 2/3 innings and leaves with the Rays ahead 3-2. He allowed three runs and six hits, with one walk, three strikeouts and two home runs. He threw 106 pitches, 74 strikes.

The Orioles’ rotation has produced eight straight quality starts and 10 in the last 11 games. The starters’ ERA is 1.86 in the last eight games. However, the Orioles will be 4-4 in those games unless they rally tonight.

Chen has three straight quality starts and six this season.