Orioles 3 - 1 Rays
Final
  for this game

Tillman steps in for O's at the Trop

Apr 2, 2011 - 2:47 PM

Video

(Sports Network) - The new-look Tampa Bay Rays make a second crack at their first win of 2010 tonight when they host the Baltimore Orioles in game two of a three-game first weekend set at Tropicana Field.

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.






Related News