Final
Tillman steps in for O's at the Trop
Apr 2, 2011 - 2:47 PMVideo
Now featuring veteran elite players Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez after a series of free-agent departures and trades in the offseason, the Rays opened defense of their 2010 American League East Division title with a 4-1 loss to the Orioles in Friday's opener.
Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie dazzled in eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. At one point he retired 13 consecutive batters in the outing, just his third Opening Day start.
Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis each had a hit and two RBI for the Orioles, who lost 96 games in 2010, their 13th straight losing season.
Last season's AL Cy Young runner-up, Tampa Bay's David Price (0-1), was tagged with the loss. He threw seven innings, during which he surrendered four runs on five hits and a walk, and struck out seven.
Damon and Ramirez, batting second and fourth, respectively, combined to go 0- for-8 with two strikeouts.
Right-hander James Shields makes the start for the Rays, seeking a bounce-back year after two straight seasons below .500.
The 29-year-old Californian was 12-8 in 2007 and 14-8 en route to Tampa Bay's berth in the World Series in 2008, but slumped to 11-12 in 2009 and 13-15 last season while his earned run average has climbed from 3.56 to 4.14 and 5.18.
A 16th-round pick in 2000, Shields is 7-4 in 19 career starts against the Orioles with a 3.63 ERA in 126 1/3 innings.
For Baltimore, former second-round draft pick Chris Tillman aims for more success in his third major-league season. Tillman had been slated to go on Sunday, but was pushed up when Brian Matusz was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained intercostal muscle.
The 23-year-old was 2-5 in 12 starts with Baltimore as a rookie in 2009, then duplicated the 2-5 in 11 more starts with the Orioles in 2010.
He's 0-2 in four career starts against the Rays, allowing 25 hits and 15 runs in 20 2/3 innings.
Tampa was 11-7 against the O's last season.
- BALTIMORE: 3
TAMPA BAY: 1
Final
Apr 2 10:02 PM - Brian Roberts one-out, three-run Home Run (1) to left center scored Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy. Nick Markakis due up.
Orioles 3, Rays 0 Top 8, 1 OutApr 2 9:22 PM - 322
roots - 308
roots - 289
roots - 275
roots - Brian Roberts singled to right. Runner on first with none out and Nick Markakis due up.
Apr 2 7:12 PM
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