Feldman loses early battle with DeJesus (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Scott Feldman needed to throw 10 pitches today to get Rays leadoff hitter David DeJesus out of the batter's box. He didn't intend for DeJesus to trot around the bases. DeJesus hit his seventh home run of the season to give Tampa Bay an early 1-0 lead. Feldman threw the following pitches: changeup, curveball, changeup, curveball, cutter, changeup, curveball, cutter, curveball, sinker. DeJesus was clearly sitting on the sinker. Feldman has allowed nine home runs in 83 innings with the Orioles. DeJesus is now 7-for-12 with two homers lifetime against him. Michael Morse swung at the first pitch following a two-out walk to Nick Markakis and grounded to second base, stranding two runners in the second inning. Morse is 3-for-27 with the Orioles. Adam Jones remains in the lineup, batting second against Rays rookie Enny Romero. Jones was laboring in center field yesterday after chasing two triples, but insisted afterward that he would play today. He was right. What would it take for Jones and shortstop J.J. Hardy to leave the lineup? "The end of the season," said manager Buck Showalter. "There are times when you take it out of their hands," Showalter said. "Like with Matt (Wieters). You don't ask him if he could catch yesterday. "I'm real proud of (Jones). I don't think there's any player that has established himself like Adam who plays the game harder for nine innings. It's an honor to watch him play the game the way it's supposed to play." Showalter was asked whether he considered giving Wieters two straight days off after catching 18 innings on Friday. "Why don't you go tell him that," Showalter replied. "More important, go tell Feldman that." Showalter said it actually did cross his mind, but not with eight games remaining in the season and the Orioles in must-win mode. "Not this time of the year," he said. "I would have gotten the look from (John) Russell, and I really would have gotten the response from Matt. "No, he's ready to go." Update: Romero lasted 4 2/3 innings, leaving with two on and two outs. Manny Machado struck out against Brandon Gomes, and the Orioles have scored one run in their last 25 innings. Romero gave up one hit - Machado's leadoff single in the first. He walked four and struck out none. Right fielder Wil Myers made a great running catch to rob Morse and hold Nick Markakis at first after a one-out walk in the fifth. Brian Roberts reached on an error, ending Romero's day. Feldman is shutting out the Rays since DeJesus' leadoff homer. It's still 1-0 as we head to the bottom of the fifth.