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Orioles-Rays Preview

Sep 29, 2010 - 3:23 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Baltimore (62-94) at Tampa Bay (93-63), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Having clinched the second playoff berth in franchise history, the Tampa Bay Rays can now turn their focus toward a second AL East title in three seasons.

They'll likely be chasing that crown in front of more fans than usual at Tropicana Field on Wednesday night in the regular-season home finale against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays (94-63) assured themselves of a postseason spot with a 5-0 victory over the Orioles on Tuesday night. David Price threw six-hit ball over eight innings for his 19th win and Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena homered to keep Tampa Bay one-half game ahead of the Yankees in the East.

The Rays also stayed atop the race for the league's best record and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.

"I never had any doubt that this was a playoff team," manager Joe Maddon said. "I want it to be a World Series champ."

Price took the mound one night after he and All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria made comments critical of the announced crowd - 12,446 - for a potential clincher Monday. Longoria called the turnout "disheartening," while Price weighed in on Twitter, calling it "embarrassing."

"That was a nightmare. I knew if I didn't throw well, I was going to be done with the fans," Price said.

"All day. Everything that led up to it was terrible," Price added. "We want more fans here, obviously. We love our fans that come, that's not what I was saying last night."

Tuesday's crowd was announced as 17,891 - about 5,000 below the Rays' season average.

Team president Matt Silverman announced before the game that the Rays will make available 20,000 free tickets for Wednesday, a decision the executive said probably wouldn't have been made if the players had not spoken out about low attendance.

"This is about getting more energy into Tropicana Field, getting this place packed, and for the players to thrive off of that emotion," Silverman said. "We saw it in the past. We've seen it this year, and we will see it in the postseason."

With their final four games at last-place Kansas City, the Rays figure to have an easier remaining schedule than the Yankees, who play their last three games on the road against arch-rival Boston.

Longoria missed his fifth straight game Tuesday with a strained left quadriceps and isn't expected to play in the series finale.

Jeff Niemann (11-7, 4.49 ERA) looks to win consecutive starts for Tampa Bay. The right-hander ended a personal four-game losing streak Friday against Seattle. He allowed three runs and seven hits over 5 1-3 innings of the 5-3 victory, his first since returning from a strained right shoulder Aug. 25. Niemann had been 0-4 with a 14.43 ERA over his previous five starts.

Niemann made two starts against the Orioles in April. He left the first one in the second inning with a bruised right shoulder. Five days later, he allowed three runs over seven innings at Camden Yards in an 8-6, 10-inning Rays win.

Brian Roberts, who sat out Tuesday due to illness, is 8 for 19 with a two homers and four doubles against Niemann.

Losers of five of six, the Orioles (62-95), need one win in their final five games to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1988.

Unlikely to return to Baltimore next season, Kevin Millwood (3-16, 5.29) could be making his final start for the Orioles. Acquired from Texas in December, the right-hander was expected to anchor a young rotation but has instead endured the worst season of his 14-year career.

The league leader in losses, Millwood has dropped seven of eight decisions and has one win in his last 14 starts. He had another disappointing outing last Wednesday at Boston, allowing six runs and seven hits in five innings of a 6-1 defeat.

Millwood is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in two starts this year against the Rays.