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...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Though he's serving as the Orioles' designated hitter tonight, Matt Wieters is taking ground balls at first base during batting practice to provide manager Buck Showalter with another option for the lineup. Wieters won't be catching until the discomfort in his right elbow subsides following Monday's MRI and yesterday's exam in Pensacola, Fla. Wieters has played one game at first base, making a start in 2011. Showalter said he wanted to play Delmon Young tonight,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Matt Wieters has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight as the designated hitter against Rays left-hander David Price. Caleb Joseph will make his second major league start behind the plate. Jonathan Schoop will start at second base after hitting a tie-breaking, two-run homer last night in the seventh inning. Chris Davis took 20 swings in the indoor cage today and said he felt better than before straining his left oblique. He's scheduled to take batting practice...

Sometimes the stat sheet doesn't tell the whole story. For O's reliever Zach Britton right now, it tells a lot. He is pitching well, he is pitching often, and he is pitching with great sink on his low to mid 90s two-seamer. Britton is 3-0 with an ERA of 0.89 in 15 games. He has already pitched 20 1/3 innings to lead all O's relievers. No one else has thrown more than the 12 2/3 frames pitched by Tommy Hunter and Ryan Webb. Britton has faced 79 batters this year and no other O's reliever...

The Orioles go for their first three-game sweep against Tampa Bay on the road since April 1-3, 2011. This would be the O's third series sweep of the season, because going 2-0 in rain-shortened series against the Rays and Pirates does count. The Orioles lost six of their last seven games at the Trop last season and went 3-7 there on the year. A win tonight would give the O's a 9-4 record in American League East road games. They won just 15 of 38 AL East road games all of last season. The...