sean rodriguez

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters was scheduled to have precautionary X-rays taken before Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates as Ed Smith Stadium.

SARASOTA, Fla. - For the first time this spring, Orioles starters Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Steve Pearce will make a road trip this afternoon at the O's travel north to Bradenton to play the Pirates at McKechnie Field.

The Orioles didn't play their best baseball this weekend. But after a career day by Nelson Cruz in a 7-5 win in 11 innings over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon, they left Tropicana Field with a 9 1/2-game lead in the American League East.

The Orioles figured out a simple way Monday night to bust out of an offensive skid that cost them three games at Wrigley Field over the weekend. Get home -- and start homering.

Orioles right-hander Bud Norris said he was "a little bummed out" about being placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a right groin strain, but he understands the club is best served when he is fully healthy.

The Orioles recorded their best offensive output in the past 14 games as a pair of homers sent them to a 7-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night in front of an announced 10,803 at Tropicana Field.

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop watched Orioles center fielder Adam Jones carry the offense with a pair of towering solo home runs before he hit a two-run shot in the club's 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen gave up six runs and 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings in the Orioles' 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

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.

Making his first start at catcher since July 28, Taylor Teagarden took advantage of Sunday's start, driving in the game's only run with a two-out, 10th-inning double off Rays reliever Joel Peralta to give the Orioles a 1-0 win over the Rays.

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.

The Baltimore Orioles' 9-8 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays -- which ended with the game-winning run on second base -- ended this series in bittersweet fashion.

The first-place Orioles used a catcher¿s interference call to ignite a fifth-inning rally and took advantage of an overall abysmal defensive showing to slip by Tampa Bay, 5-3.

The Orioles continue to make roster moves at a dizzying pace, the latest occurring Saturday afternoon when third baseman Mark Reynolds was placed on the disabled list with a strained oblique.

Nick Johnson's brief career in an Orioles uniform has been less than stellar. But on Friday night, with sole possession of first place in the American League East on the line, he played the role of hero.

The Orioles play in their final Grapefruit League game today against the Rays. After today, the Orioles will play three more exhibition games, including the first two at Ed Smith Stadium against Florida Southern on Monday night and then State College of Florida on Tuesday afternoon.

Rays of gratitude: As they meet Monday, Tampa Bay will thank the Baltimore Orioles for their part in eliminating the Boston Red Sox back in September.

Orioles' Adam Jones 'just missed the ball' on Evan Longoria's inside-the-park home run. Orioles center fielder's miscue in eighth inning leads to two Tampa Bay runs

Brian Matusz lasted just 1 1/3 innings Sunday and retired only three of the 13 hitters that he faced, and Evan Longoria hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the Orioles' 9-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays before an announced 22,032 at Camden Yards.