Millwood in command: O's blank Rays 2-0 to win series

If this was Kevin Millwood's last outing in an Orioles uniform, he sure left on a high note. Millwood gave up just two hits, both bloop singles, over seven innings, as the Orioles beat Tampa 2-0, to win the series at Tropicana Field. O's pitching recorded two shutouts and allowed just 12 hits in this series. Millwood, who threw just 50 pitches over the first four innings, walked three with seven strikeouts. This was just his second win on the year in 27 starts vs. American League teams. He is 4-16, 5.10 on the year and, over his last ten starts since Buck Showalter took over, is 2-5, 3.29. This was his second scoreless start of the year. He pitched eight shutout frames vs. the Angels on August 28th. Koji Uehara retired the side in order in the ninth to record the save and complete a three-pitcher, three-hitter. Millwood was sharp from the start and did not allow a hit until John Jaso led off the fourth with a bloop single. But he was thrown out when the next hitter flied out to right and he tried to tag and reach second. Right fielder Felix Pie threw a perfect strike to the bag. Millwood got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. He gave up a walk and bloop single to the first two hitters. But he fanned B.J. Upton on a 1-2 pitch to end the frame as Tampa stranded three. Tampa starter Jeff Niemann was just as good as Millwood and needed just 52 pitches to sail through five innings in the fast-moving game. The O's finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh. With two on and two out, Pie hit a deep drive to right that went for a two-run triple as Pie snapped a 1 for 14 stretch. The O's are 63-95 with the win, ensuring they will avoid what would have been the third 100-loss season in club history. The O's are 31-22 under Showalter and finished with a record of 13-12 vs. AL East clubs under the skipper. The O's are scheduled to host Detroit on Thursday night at Camden Yards to begin the final series of the year.