ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles lost tonight and still reduced their magic number. It's down to 14. The Yankees and Blue Jays also lost. The Orioles still hold a 9 1/2-game lead in the American League East. Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't going to use five relievers tonight, which explains why he turned to Ryan Webb and Evan Meek in a scoreless game. Webb was charged with two runs in a 3-0 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field. Showalter didn't rattle off the names, but it's safe...

After scoring nine runs last night and 67 during their 9-2 homestand, the Orioles were blanked 3-0 by Tampa Bay to lose tonight's series opener. With a win, the Orioles would have opened a lead of at least 10 games atop the American League East for the first time since Sept. 22, 1979. After starters Wei-Yin Chen and Alex Cobb matched zeroes, Tampa Bay finally broke the scoreless tie in the last of the eighth against the O's bullpen. Evan Longoria and Wil Myers led off with singles off...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - In five innings tonight, Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen has thrown 14, 36, 14, 16 and nine pitches. I'll save you from the task of removing your shoes to count. This isn't the security line at BWI Airport. That's 89 pitches in five scoreless frames against the Rays, whose offense already has packed up for the winter. The Rays didn't score in 10 innings last night and they can't break through against Chen, who loaded the bases in the second on a single and two...

There was some question prior to Friday's series opener against the Phillies whether or not first baseman Adam LaRoche would be able to play. He admitted during pregame that he has been battling back pain, elbow soreness and flu-like symptoms since early in the week. Facing the Dodgers on Wednesday, LaRoche managed to battle through the pain to put together a two-hit five RBI performance, including his 20th homer of the season, in a 8-5 14-inning victory over Los Angeles. LaRoche told manager...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Delmon Young will return to the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Young hasn't started since Monday. Showalter has been using plus-defenders Alejandro De Aza and David Lough in left field. Lough is in left tonight, with Nelson Cruz again serving as the designated hitter. The Rays are starting left-hander Drew Smyly on Saturday. Smyly has held left-handed hitters to a .166 average. Showalter also...

First baseman Adam LaRoche offered more insight to the end of the Nationals' marathon 14-inning 8-5 victory at Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Wednesday. LaRoche said he was battling the flu, his hurt elbow and his aching back in his final at-bat. LaRoche ended up with five RBIs in a game he didn't start. He hit a game-tying home run, a go-ahead two-run single in the 12th inning and a fielder's choice that scored the decisive run in the 14th. Those three ailments still bothered him...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce remains optimistic that he will return to the lineup Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. Pearce, diagnosed with a strained right abdominal muscle, took early batting practice today and ran sprints in the outfield. "It felt good," he said. "Everything is good. We'll see how I feel tomorrow and I should be ready to go. "There's no point in rushing it. Today we did hitting and we were out in the field and everything felt fine,...

Nationals manager Matt Williams had positive news today on the progress for third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has been on the sidelines since July 23 with a right hamstring strain. Williams said Zimmerman has graduated to running in his rehabilitation program. "He ran," Williams said. "He's upping his running. He was on the Alter-G again at 90 percent body weight, which is good, and running. That's a step in the right direction. He's increasing his strength and his ability to let it go a...

The Orioles' magic number to clinch the American League East is down to 15 and they have 23 games remaining as they begin a road trip tonight against Tampa Bay. That may come as good news to an O's team that is 33-20 against the AL East this year. Since starting this season by losing two of its first three series within the division, the Orioles are 11-1-2 in 14 AL East series. The Orioles have not lost a road series in the AL East all year, going 7-0-1 in those series with a record of...

ST. PETERSBURG - The Orioles have David Lough in left field and Ryan Flaherty at third base for tonight's series opener against the Rays. With Chris Davis at first and Nelson Cruz at designated hitter, the club has a bench led by Delmon Young, Alejandro De Aza and Kelly Johnson. Lough makes his second start in three games, but first in left since Aug. 31. With four hits in his last nine at-bats, Lough has lifted his season average from .213 to .227. Flaherty makes his first start since...