Showalter on Britton, bunting and more (tied 5-5)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles closer Zach Britton remains scheduled to come off the disabled list on July 5 as he moves smoothly through his injury rehab assignment.

Britton tossed another scoreless inning last night at Single-A Delmarva, walking a batter and throwing 11 pitches. He's allowed one hit in three scoreless innings on his assignment, the first at short-season Single-A Aberdeen.

Britton will pitch Monday and Thursday at Double-A Bowie and join Single-A Frederick for Friday's game, allowing him to go back-to-back for the first time. He'll likely move on to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles basically are replicating a spring training schedule for Britton.

Manager Buck Showalter spoke with Britton over the phone following Delmarva's game, and again this morning.

"I think he was just nervous crossing the bridge and wanted to talk to somebody," Showalter said. "I know I would be."

Britton insisted on participating in pitchers fielding drills Thursday because he wanted to set a good example for the younger players instead of standing to the side and watching. Never mind that he was taking the mound later that night.

"He's feeling good," Showalter said. "He said last night was the first night he really felt like he could turn it loose without thinking, 'Is that going to hurt?' He pitched in the game without thinking about it."

Chris Davis remains shut down with a strained right oblique, but the platelet-rich plasma injections have allowed him to sleep without recurring pain.

Hunter Harvey is close to joining an affiliate. There haven't been any setbacks following ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow.

"I don't think it's imminent," Showalter said, "but he's where he needs to be with it. He's doing everything he's supposed to do on schedule."

The Orioles had four plate appearances yesterday end with bunts for the first time since May 17, 2010 against the Royals, according to STATS. Only one was done by design - Paul Janish's sacrifice in the second inning.

Manny Machado bunted on his own for a hit in the decisive seventh inning. Joey Rickard and Janish opened the eighth with bunt singles, as the Orioles tacked on an insurance run.

"They were playing a shift on Paulie with a man on first and the whole lane was open," Showalter said. "Joey did it on his own.

"The Go-Go O's."

There could be more small ball today with Rickard and Craig Gentry in the lineup.

"It gives us some options to do some things we don't normally do," Showalter said.

Showalter wasn't happy that a scoring change took a hit away from Mark Trumbo on Friday, with an error now charged to shortstop Tim Beckham.

"You know what the ball was off the bat? (It WAS) 112 mph," Showalter said. "I'd like to have the scorer and the people who rule that go stand at shortstop and try to make that play. Really?

"Trum's not a guy to complain about it, either. He just takes it. But some of the scoring stuff ..."

Update: The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-out single by Caleb Joseph, double by Craig Gentry and two-run single by Paul Janish. Janish's last major league RBI was Oct 1, 2015 versus the Blue Jays.

Update II: The Rays answered back with a run off Chris Tillman in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI single by Taylor Featherston. Tillman has thrown 40 pitches in two innings and allowed six of 11 batters to reach base.

Update III: Joseph homered in the top of the fourth for a 3-1 lead, but Tillman gave up an unearned run in the bottom half after his errant pickoff throw and Featherston's sacrifice fly that scored Daniel Robertson.

Tillman threw 26 pitches in the inning, including 12 to Trevor Plouffe, who flied out.

Update IV: Evan Longoria hit a three-run homer off Tillman in the fifth to give Tampa Bay a 5-3 lead. Tillman allowed five runs (four earned) and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Update V: Trey Mancini homered with one out in the sixth inning to reduce the lead to 5-4. Tommy Hunter has replaced Jake Odorizzi.

Mancini's 14 home runs are the most for an Orioles rookie before the All-Star break.

Update VI: Jonathan Schoop homered off Chase Whitley to lead off the eighth inning and tie the score 5-5. Schoop has 15 home runs this season and he leads the Orioles with 16 RBIs in the seventh inning or later.