Tommy Hunter had pitched in five of the last seven games and Zach Britton had pitched in three in a row. Even without two of their key bullpen arms, the O's relievers did a great job in closing out that game last night. Ryan Webb, Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day pitched the final 3 2/3 innings without allowing a run and giving up just two hits. Both hits came off O'Day to start the last of the ninth, but three quick outs followed over the next six pitches and the sweep was secured. The O's...

TAMPA - I'm filing this morning's blog entry from the Tampa Airport Marriott before boarding my flight home. It's a tradition of sorts. Turn in the rental car the previous night, check into a room, get a few hours sleep and stumble to my gate. Showering is optional. It's one way to make certain that the middle seat remains unoccupied. Manager Buck Showalter kept wondering why last night's game wasn't played in the daytime, since the Orioles would be traveling after the final out. It's an...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez didn't give the Orioles a quality start tonight by definition. One run in 5 1/3 innings falls short of it. However, he left Tropicana Field with a victory, which ultimately is all that matters. "I was not 100 percent," he said following a 3-1 win over the Rays that completed a three-game sweep. "I was missing with my fastball and my breaking ball. That's why I threw too many pitches. But I was able to hang in. "It was a good one because when I saw...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter says first baseman Chris Davis could begin a brief injury-rehab assignment as early as Saturday. Davis, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, is scheduled to take live batting practice on Friday. However, the threat of rain could alter those plans. Showalter jokingly told a reporter to "slow down" when it was suggested that Davis would report to a minor league affiliate this weekend. Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick are...

Steve Pearce homered, Ubaldo Jimenez gave up just one run and the Orioles' bullpen pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 3-1 tonight to complete a three-game sweep. There was some bottom-of-the-ninth drama again tonight. With Tommy Hunter having pitched in five of the last seven games, Darren O'Day came on to get the save. He got it after the first two batters singled to put the tie runs on. A double play ball and a grounder to first followed to end the game. The...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One start after tossing 7 1/3 scoreless innings, Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez didn't make it through the sixth tonight. He did, however, exit with a lead that still stands. Jimenez is charged with one run and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, with two walks, three strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 117 pitches, one fewer than his season high, including 74 for strikes. Jimenez was removed after back-to-back singles by Wil Myers and David DeJesus. Ryan Webb...

Right-handed pitcher Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' 2009 first-round pick, left a relief outing tonight after facing just two batters for Single-A Frederick due to tightness in his shoulder. Hobgood came on to pitch in the top of the sixth at Harry Grove Stadium for the Keys against Winston-Salem. He gave up a single, got a strikeout and then was removed as Lex Rutledge came on. The Orioles' top pick, taken fifth overall in the 2009 draft, Hobgood had shoulder surgery on April 2, 2012 and...

Manager: Bob Melvin, fourth year Record: 20-15 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Yoenis Cespedes (.259/.344/.518, 6 HR, 9 doubles, 20 RBIs); 3B Josh Donaldson (.262/.341/.476, 7 HR, 10 doubles, 24 RBIs); RHP Sonny Gray (4-1, 1.91 ERA, 40 K); LHP Scott Kazmir (4-1, 2.64 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2013): Did not play Pitching probables May 9: Tommy Milone vs. Doug Fister, 10 p.m., MASN2 HD May 10: Sonny Gray vs. Tanner Roark, 9 p.m., MASN2 HD May 11: Scott Kazmir vs. Gio Gonzalez,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I'm predicting that Orioles manager Buck Showalter will refer to Steve Pearce later tonight as "a professional hitter." If the spike fits... Pearce hit a two-out, two-run homer off Rays starter David Price in the top of the second inning to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. He's 8-for-27 (.296) with two doubles, two homers and five RBIs since re-signing with the Orioles on April 29 and becoming their regular first baseman. J.J. Hardy doubled to right-center field with...

Manager: Bo Porter, second year Record: 11-24 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: SS Jonathan Villar (.240/.301/.490, 5 HR, 13 RBIs, 8 SB); 2B Jose Altuve (.271/.323/.375, 12 XBH, 12 RBIs, 11 SB); RHP Scott Feldman (2-1, 1.69 ERA, .176 BAA); RHP Collin McHugh (2-1, 2.79 ERA, 0.88 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 2-4, 30 runs scored, 24 runs allowed Pitching probables May 9: Scott Feldman vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN HD May 10: Collin McHugh vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD May 11: Jarred...