Chris Lee on how starting "just felt right" (O's rally for 2-2 tie)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 2, Phillies 2

Recap: Chris Dickerson's one-out single in the ninth prevented the Phillies from recording a spring no-hitter. Sean Coyle followed with a game-tying two-run homer. ... Left-hander Chris Lee tossed three scoreless innings, but he threw 66 pitches and only 34 for strikes. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out one ... Ryan Meisinger gave up a run in the fourth on Ryan Hanigan's two-out RBI single ... Oliver Drake gave up a solo home run to Andrew Knapp in the sixth and also allowed a single and double ... Thirteen Orioles in a row were retired before Craig Gentry walked with two outs in the seventh.

Need to know: Lee threw 26 pitches (12 strikes) in the first ... J.J. Hardy committed an error on a ground ball after Lee surrendered a leadoff single in the first ... Hardy walked twice and Chris Davis struck out twice in the first three innings ... The Orioles didn't have a hit in 3 2/3 innings against Phillies starter Vince Velasquez, but he walked four batters.

On deck: Friday, at Pirates in Bradenton, 1:05 p.m.
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SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Knapp hit a solo home run off Oliver Drake in the top of the sixth inning to increase the Phillies' lead to 2-0.

The Orioles still don't have a hit going to the top of the eighth. Craig Gentry walked with two outs in the seventh to snap a streak of 13 in a row retired, but Caleb Joseph lined to center field.

Phillies starter Vince Velasquez walked four and struck out six in 3 2/3 innings. He walked the bases loaded in the first, but Chris Johnson flied to left.

Ryan Meisinger, who came over from minor league camp, allowed an RBI single to Ryan Hanigan in the fourth that broke a scoreless tie. Brad Brach gave up a single and struck out a batter in the fifth.

Drake turned in a scoreless seventh and Jesus Liranzo is now working the eighth.

Left-hander Chris Lee admitted to having some nerves before making his first start tonight since May 2016 with Double-A Bowie.

"But it was good nerves," he said smiling.

"I have a little butterflies once in a while. Last night, it was hard for me to sleep because I knew I had my first start in a little while. I was pretty pumped up and ready to get out there."

Lee ran up his pitch count to 66 over three innings, only 34 for strikes, but he kept the Phillies from scoring. Damage control was one of his specialties.

"Once the runners were out on base, my main focus was don't let them score and try to get a ground ball to get out of it," he said.

"I had too many deep counts than I'd like and I was trying to trust my stuff and stay down in the zone, more efficient. The results came out, got my ground balls."

One grounder turned into a 6-4-3 double play in the first following J.J. Hardy's fielding error. The first inning closed with, yes, a ground ball, and the first two outs in the third also were balls hit into the grass.

Lee made seven starts with Bowie last season among his eight appearances before the Orioles shut him down with a lat injury. He's slowly been working his way back to the mound, and now he's returned to a starter's role.

"It was definitely an amazing feeling," he said. "Definitely a little different from waiting so long because of the injury last year and coming back from it. Being out of the bullpen the first couple of games, starting just felt right. I felt like I was just getting back into it.

"Overall the first start was pretty good. Put up some zeros and was happy with the results."

The Orioles have placed Lee in the competition for the fifth starter's job while Chris Tillman is on the disabled list. He's not regarded as the favorite, but it's impressive that he's in the discussion.

"Yeah, I feel ready," he said. "Whatever role they give me during the season, I'm ready to go out there and just do my best and try to put up zeros and try to get us into the playoffs."