ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays bats certainly appeared deflated after seeing Denard Span and Alex Colome depart via trade just before the start of Friday's contest, as they managed just seven hits in being shut out by the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay again started reliever Sergio Romo, who appeared to get out of the first inning with no damage, but Wilson Ramos couldn't corral a pitch in the dirt swung at by Jonathan Schoop and he was able to reach to extend the inning for Danny Valencia, who doubled to right to plate Adam Jones for a 1-0 lead.
Romo (1-1) left after the hit and Ryan Yarbrough came on to retire Chris Davis to end the inning.
The left-hander would end up tossing seven innings of relief, allowing just a single run on a solo homer by Jonathan Schoop in the top of the sixth and six other hits. He would leave with two out in the eighth having struck out eight and not walking a hitter.
Tampa Bay ran into three outs on the basepaths in the first four innings. Brad Miller was picked off second base after doubling to start the bottom of the first. Mallex Smith was thrown out trying to steal second in the second, and Joey Wendle was thrown out at third trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt in the fourth inning.
David Hess (2-1) tosed three-hit shutout baseball for the Orioles into the seventh, followed by scoreless relief outings by Mychal Givens, Richard Bleier, and Brad Brach, with the latter earning his eighth save.
SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay Rays (23-26) vs. Baltimore Orioles (17-34), 4:10 p.m. first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 3:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.
Rays starter - RHP Ryne Stanek (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
Orioles starter - RHP Andrew Cashner (2-5, 4.72 ERA)