jeremy hellickson

The Orioles head to Tampa Bay for a four-game series against the Rays with their season on the line after losing Thursday night in Boston.

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis sent a history-making homer onto Eutaw Street in the fifth inning and Tommy Hunter got his fourth career save.

Once again, the Orioles pitching prospect showed flashes of his immense promise, but Gausman's night ended prematurely on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and designated hitter Wilson Betemit, both rehabbing injuries at the team¿s spring training complex in Sarasota, visited the club at Tropicana Field on Saturday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ¿ Games like the Orioles¿ 2-1 loss to the Rays Friday night are tough ones to swallow, especially when another team beats you at your own game.

Jason Hammel was rocked for a season-high seven runs on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings as part of a 17-hit Tampa Bay hit parade Friday, but a furious Orioles late-inning rally fell just short in a 12-10 loss to the Rays in front of an announced 38,061 at Camden Yards.

Miguel Gonzalez takes the mound against Roberto Hernandez in the series finale at Tropicana Field. The Orioles would really like to go back to Baltimore for Opening Day at Camden Yards on Friday with more than one victory to show for this series.

But when Matt Joyce¿s solo homer off reliever Tommy Hunter sailed into the right field seats ¿ giving the Rays an 8-7 walk-off win over the Orioles ¿ it ended a bullpen outing very uncharacteristic of the 2012 Orioles.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter unveiled a pull shift on a pair of left-handed hitters in Tuesday's regular season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, placing third baseman Manny Machado in shallow right field.

One of the biggest surprises of a stunning 93-win season for the Baltimore Orioles in 2012 was the emergence of Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, who as a 27-year-old rookie led all Baltimore starters in wins, quality starts, strikeouts and ERA.

The euphoria that sprung from the Orioles¿ late comeback on Opening Day will enshroud the club right up until gametime tonight, when Wei-Yin Chen makes his 2013 regular-season debut against Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson. Then it will be up to Chen to create his own Orioles Magic in the second difficult pitching matchup of the series.

How would I rank the five American League teams in position of finish for 2013? Certainly, rosters aren¿t set yet.

Catcher Matt Wieters is up for his second consecutive American League Gold Glove Award, center fielder Adam Jones will be going for the second (2009) of his career and shortstop J.J. Hardy is seeking his first.

At the end of a regular season in which they overcame obstacles and resuscitated baseball in Baltimore, the Orioles finished with a whisper.

The Orioles rotation looks like it's set up pretty nicely for a potential ALDS with Jason Hammel, Miguel Gonzalez and Tillman in line for the first three games. But who takes the ball to get them there?

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming day for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

The Orioles' 3-2 extra-inning win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon was a long time coming -- in more ways than one.

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

The Orioles' six-game trip to New York and Tampa Bay concluded with two road series wins. The Orioles took the first two games in the Bronx, overcoming some starting pitching struggles. But once the O¿s arrived in Tampa Bay, their pitching carried them against a Rays team that boasts the best team ERA in baseball since the all-star break (2.34).

Orioles manager Buck Showalter expressed faith in slumping first baseman Mark Reynolds, saying he will continue to put Reynolds in the lineup despite his struggles.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is an All-Star and a Gold Glove winner. He¿s regarded as one of the best gamecallers in the game. But he¿s not known for his speed. However, in Saturday night¿s 4-0 win over the Rays, Wieters stole second twice.

Orioles finally hit with runners in scoring position, beat Rays 4-0

The Orioles purchased the contract of outfielder Nate McLouth Saturday afternoon and have designated veteran outfielder Endy Chavez for assignment.

Brian Matusz provided his finest performance of the season, giving the Orioles his fourth consecutive quality start and more importantly, creating a two-way tie between the teams atop the American League East standings heading into Sunday¿s afternoon series finale.

Lefty Dana Eveland, making his Orioles and 2012 MLB debut, allowed just three runs in six innings.

Lefty Dana Eveland, making his Orioles and 2012 MLB debut.

We'll have a late start today because the Orioles first full squad workout doesn't begin until noon. That's because most of the position player have to take their physicals beforehand.

Long a solid center fielder and one of baseball's best baserunners, Curtis Granderson has turned into a beast at the plate since working with New York Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long to rework his swing.

Orioles notebook: Matt Wieters gets rare day off vs. Tampa Bay Rays. J.J. Hardy is impressed by Justin Duchscherer.Brian Roberts will remain in leadoff spot.