Machado remains a hit on the road (O's lose 2-1)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manny Machado bounced an RBI single into center field with two outs in the top of the third inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead and continue his assault on road pitching. Machado has hit safely in 22 of the last 24 road games, batting .394 with 14 doubles, three homers, 13 RBIs and 18 runs scored. He's hit in 14 of his last 15 road games, batting .406 with eight doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and 11 runs scored. Machado has hit in five straight games, but he didn't have a multi-hit game in the last six before tonight, his longest streak of 2013. He didn't have a multi-hit game from May 17-21. Nate McLouth was hit by a Chris Archer pitch leading off the first inning tonight and was erased on a fielder's choice grounder by Machado. Archer walked Chris Dickerson with one out in the third and McLouth with two outs after a wild pitch, and Machado delivered his 32nd RBI of the season. Orioles starter Jason Hammel has allowed two hits, walked a batter and struck out two in three innings. He will try to get through the fourth without an ejection. Hammel is 6-0 in seven road starts this season, one victory shy of tying his career high with the Rockies in 2009. Hammel and Chris Tillman (4-0) are two of the four American League starters who are unbeaten on the road, joining Clay Buchholz (4-0) and Scott Diamond (3-0). According to STATS, with a win in his next road decision, Hammel would become the fifth Orioles pitcher to begin a season 7-0 or better away from home, joining Scott McGregor (13-0 in 1983), Dave McNally (9-0 in 1969), Hoyt Wilhelm (7-0 with 1959) and Jim Palmer (7-0 in 1982). Yes, it's been 30 years. The Orioles began tonight leading the majors with a .283 average on the road, a .472 slugging percentage, an .807 OPS and 1.44 homers per game. Before tonight, the Orioles had scored 54 runs in nine games (6.0 per game) against the Rays after scoring 56 in 18 games (3.1) last season. The Orioles selected four catchers in the first 10 rounds of the First-Year Player Draft, including Fresno State's Austin Wynns in the 10th. In a related story, Mike Figga and Tim Laker are petitioning Major League Baseball to re-enter the draft. Single-A Frederick left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and catcher Zane Chavez have been named to the Carolina League All-Star team that will face the California League All-Stars on June 18 in San Jose. Rodriguez is 6-2 with a 2.94 ERA in 11 starts. Chavez is batting .279/.384/.424 with 13 doubles, four homers and 27 RBIs in 45 games. Update: Hammel has retired 10 of the last 11 batters and continues to hold onto a 1-0 lead. Hammel has allowed three hits, walked one and struck out two. He's thrown 89 pitches, 52 for strikes. Archer also has retired 10 of 11 batters. Ryan Flaherty doubled with two outs in the fifth, making him 8-for-25 since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. He's hit in six of the eight games. Update II: So much for that 1-0 lead. James Loney singled leading off the bottom of the seventh, making him 12-for-36 against Hammel, and Desmond Jennings homered on the next pitch to give the Rays a 2-1 lead. Hammel allowed three consecutive home runs in his last start against the Tigers. Archer has retired 13 of 14. And I can't hear that name without thinking, "Lana! Danger Zone!" Update III: Both starters are out of the game. Hammel allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, with two walks, three strikeouts and one home run. He threw 105 pitches, 63 for strikes. Troy Patton stranded two runners to end the seventh. This is Hammel's sixth quality start out of 13 starts. Archer is done after retiring 13 of the last 14 batters and holding the Orioles to two hits. Tonight's attendance: 13,256 Update IV: Rays closer Fernando Rodney retired the Orioles in order in the ninth, striking out two, and the Rays hung on for a 2-1 victory. The Orioles had only two baserunners after the third inning and finished with two hits. Tommy Hunter retired all three batters he faced in the eighth. The game lasted 2 hours, 29 minutes. Quick and unsatisfying. Story of my life.