Orioles settle for rain-delayed doubleheader split (updated)

Alex Cobb retired seven batters in a row tonight when the rain picked up in intensity and the tarp was unrolled. Play was halted at 7:37 p.m. The Orioles' momentum was stopped right after Trey Mancini's leadoff home run.

The Orioles didn't collect another hit before the game was delayed with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. They had only one baserunner, with Mancini drawing a two-out walk in the third.

One pitcher didn't control them. Starter Matt Andriese worked the first three innings, Sergio Romo 1 1/3 and Andrew Kittredge two thirds to get the Rays through the fifth. The baton would be passed a few more times, though the conditions called for a swim meet.

The delay lasted one hour, 19 minutes. The old adage about momentum being the next day's starting pitcher - or Game 2's starter or bullpen on the same day - held up and the Rays defeated the Orioles 10-3 and gained a split before an announced doubleheader crowd of 24,534.

The Rays created separation with two runs off Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo in the eighth. He gave up a hit, walked three batters and hit one. And with three in the ninth off Mike Wright Jr.

C.J. Cron homered off Cobb with one out in the top of the first inning, Brad Miller tripled and scored on Daniel Robertson's ground ball in the second, Joey Wendle lifted a sacrifice fly in the third after two singles and Jace Peterson's fielding error loaded the bases with no outs, and Miller homered to lead off the fourth.

Peterson could have stepped on the bag and started a double play, but he misplayed the ball. He also ran into an out after drawing a walk that ended the seventh inning.

Mallex Smith doubled with one out in the fourth before Cobb found his rhythm and a succession of outs. Meanwhile, a koi pond appeared in front of both dugouts as umpires intervened. Hail crashed into the press box, which is a first for me and I've been on the beat full-time since 1997. There are storms and then there's whatever happened in the Baltimore metro area.

Loud claps of thunder added to the soundtrack as fans raced for cover. The front row of the press box was abandoned, with media members grabbing their laptops, note pads and recorders. Loved ones were contacted.

The Orioles are 12-28 overall and 9-12 at home as they wait to conclude the series Sunday afternoon.

Jimmy Yacabonis replaced Cobb, who couldn't withstand the layoff, and walked Daniel Robertson on four pitches after inheriting an 0-1 count. Cobb allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, with no walks, five strikeouts and two home runs. He threw 69 pitches, 45 for strikes.

Kittredge came back out for the Rays and faced two batters, allowing a double to Caleb Joseph and Mancini's run-scoring single into center field that reduced the lead to 4-2. The Rays used three pitchers in the inning, including former Oriole Chaz Roe, who surrendered a run on Adam Jones' double and Schoop's RBI roller toward the mound.

The Rays expanded their lead to 5-3 in the seventh on Denard Span's one-out walk, Cron's single into right field and Schoop's throwing error. Span hesitated before breaking for third base and Schoop's throw sailed past Peterson, who tried to make the catch and slap the tag at the same time.

The run was earned because Wendle grounded out. I never liked that rule. Why assume the infield would be playing at the same depth with Span at third?

Smith had an RBI double off Araujo in the eighth and Cron drew a bases-loaded walk before Wright replaced him and struck out Wendle. Araujo has been scored upon in five straight outings and seven of eight, and he's carrying a 6.86 ERA in 21 innings.

Wright was burned in the ninth by Smith's two-run triple and Carlos Gomez's RBI single. He's sporting a 9.15 ERA in 20 2/3 innings.

The Orioles need to remove one player from the roster later tonight to get back to 25, and they likely need to make another transaction to gain a fresh arm for Sunday.

Update: The Orioles returned David Hess to Triple-A Norfolk after using him as the 26th man, but he's eligible to return at any time. He doesn't have to stay down for the minimum 10 days because it's not an option.

The club also will make a move Sunday morning to bring up a fresh arm. They could option Yacabonis.

"Well make one or two in the morning," Showalter said. "David will go back, Hess, because it doesn't preclude him from coming back in a day or two. The rules when you take the 26th is they don't have to stay down for 10 days, so you have to send somebody back. You can't play at 26 tomorrow. What they should do is, if you have an hour-and-a-half rain delay you should be able to keep the 26th guy for the next day or trade him out for another. Don't you think?

"He's not going to be able to pitch on Wednesday when we need a starter. That's not enough rest. But we'll see what the weather brings and a few other things. But he's eligible to come back any time as soon as he gets his rest."

Araujo remains on the roster due to his Rule 5 status.

"I've said many times in the major leagues and the American League, they're going to have to pitch and we still think well of him," Showalter said. "He's got a future. It's just kind of, unfortunately you have to be force-fed a little bit up here, and I felt for him.

"It's tough. It's not really his (fault). His experience level is a challenge for him. Like most guys from his background, and some of them pick it up at different paces and get to the point where they can contribute. So, very much like Anthony Santander. Anthony's had his really good moments, but it's challenging for guys with that experience level."

The weather forced Cobb out of the game and the Orioles never recovered.

"There was a game there to be won," Showalter said. "I thought Alex was getting ready. His pitch count was somewhat down. Too long (delay). He was wanting to go back out. Just not a good idea, especially in May. We'd do the same thing with anybody."

The bullpen allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

"It's kind of where we were," Showalter said. "Yac got out of the first one, comes in with two outs and nobody on and an 0-1 count. And you saw the ball-strike ratio. It's been a challenge for him.

"Last year, every time we brought him up here he got a little bit better, but it was tough for him, him and Pedro and Mike. We had some people who weren't going to pitch the second game or today."