ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles hadn't swept the Rays at Tropicana Field since 2005. Zach Britton became only the second visiting pitcher to win his debut here since Marlins left-hander Scott Olsen on June 25, 2005. Let's hear from Britton: "I was really excited," he told reporters after finishing his interview on MASN2. "It really wasn't as bad. I remember spring training with Philly when I was really just everywhere. It wasn't that bad. After that first inning I started to get a...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I scanned the Rays' postgame notes, saw a line about Zach Britton becoming the first Orioles pitcher to debut with six scoreless innings since Chris Waters, and ran with it. Then I realized he gave up a run and I made the correction. That's the beauty of a blog. You can go back and fix it. Now it's fixed. And now you've forgiven me. Manager Buck Showalter talked about Britton and hit on a few other topics after today's 5-1 victory over the Rays. On...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Lots to pass along following today's 5-1 victory that completed a three-game sweep of the Rays. The Orioles are 3-0 for the first time since the 1997 wire-to-wire season. Just saying... Here's shortstop J.J. Hardy on the sweep: "It's big. We had all the confidence in the world going through spring training and as many expectations as we've had on ourselves. It's nice to get off to a good start like this." J.J. Hardy joins the O's Xtra crew to talk about his big...

A weekend of stunningly good pitching ended today with another Orioles win. The O's scored three runs in the top of the seventh to help make Zach Britton a winner in his major league debut and the O's beat Tampa 5-1. They swept the three-game series by a 12-3 score and have their first 3-0 start since 1997. Britton was excellent in his first big league game, giving up just one run and three hits over six innings. He left in a 1-1 tie, but when the O's scored three in the seventh to break...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton - not exactly the top three you envisioned when putting together your rotation over the winter - held the Rays to one run and six hits in 20 innings in this series. Jake Arrieta has three tough acts to follow in tomorrow's home opener, which I'm told will be played with temperatures in the 70s. I really hope it holds true. Guthrie tossed eight scoreless innings in Friday night's season-opener, allowing only three hits....

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh, and they're still batting. Cesar Ramos replaced starter Wade Davis after J.J. Hardy lined a two-run double into the left field corner. Matt Wieters led off with his second hit - yes, it was a good idea to bat him fifth - and Adam Jones followed with a single. Mark Reynolds doubled to break the tie and collect his first RBI as an Oriole. Felix Pie bounced to short against a drawn-in infield, but...

Another day, another excellent outing by an Orioles' starter. One run by O's starters in 20 innings in Tampa. Sure, I'll take that, works for me. Zach Britton's performance in his debut was outstanding today. It looks like the O's will go to the pen in the last of the seventh. We could not have asked for much more. He will leave this game tied 1-1, allowing just a run and three hits over six innings. He threw 96 pitches. Sure he got into some deep counts and walked a couple, but to...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Zach Britton already knows the dangers of walking batters, but he got another reminder today. Britton opened the third inning by walking the last two hitters in the Rays lineup, Matt Joyce and Sam Fuld. Joyce scored with one out on Elliot Johnson's safety squeeze bunt. Joyce didn't break for home until Johnson laid down the bunt, so it wasn't a suicide squeeze. Britton caught two breaks in the inning. B.J. Upton appeared to drop a single into right field after the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter had to change his lineup today with Luke Scott unable to play because of a strained groin muscle. One of the adjustments raised Matt Wieters from eighth to fifth in the order. Wieters was hitting .167 with no homers or RBIs after the first two games of this series, but Showalter played a hunch. Wieters responded with a bloop single into left field with two outs in the first inning that scored Brian Roberts and gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. I'll...

The minor league rosters for the Orioles four full season affiliates are not officially set yet but it appears that second baseman Ryan Adams and outfielder Tyler Henson are likely to begin the year with Triple-A Norfolk. Adams hit .298 with 43 doubles, 15 homers and 68 RBI at Double-A last summer. He had ten hits in 19 at bats in Major League spring training games. Henson, a fifth-round pick in 2006, batted .278 with 12 homers, 37 doubles and 60 RBI at Bowie in 2010. O's 2010 Minor League...