Showalter on Harvey, Gallardo and pitching (O's down 2-1)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided an update today on former first-round pick Hunter Harvey, who worked two innings at extended spring training.

"Did well, felt good," Showalter said. "No problems with the groin. Hopefully, he's going to get out of there soon and get on with his season."

Harvey is expected to be assigned to Single-A Frederick, but the Orioles aren't gazing too far into the future. They want to make sure he's 100 percent physically and able to hold up over a minor league season.

"Let's get him out of extended spring first and let's let him feel good tomorrow," Showalter said. "I'm sure he's going to have another outing, and where they send him to, I'll leave that up to Brian (Graham) and Dan (Duquette).

"I'd love to get him to 100 innings this year. That's just a number I pull out of the sky. If he's healthy, he's capable of competing at a lot of levels."

Yovani Gallardo, on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder, will stay with the team while rehabbing. He's receiving daily treatments and performing exercises implemented by head athletic trainer Richie Bancells.

"It's a pretty strict program that Richie has him on," Showalter said. "He's had a great return with this program with guys I've watched through the years, because it leaves no stone unturned about making sure (the pitchers) is ready to compete."

The Orioles must be ready for a White Sox pitching staff with a 2.24 ERA that ranks first in the American League. The Rays are second at 3.20.

The Orioles rank sixth with a 3.57 ERA, and their starters combined to allow four runs in 17 2/3 innings in the three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

"A lot of strikes, now that I've jinxed them," Showalter said. "We didn't walk many people this whole trip. Guys were in the zone. I was really happy to see that.

"Our guys held their own against some pretty good pitching staffs we faced, and now we're getting ready to face one that's a full run ERA better than anybody in our league. Think about it. That's how good they're pitching right now. A full run in 20-something games. That's a lot."

The White Sox's bullpen ranks first in the majors with a 1.32 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over 61 1/3 innings. The Orioles' bullpen is second with a 1.80 ERA in 70 innings.

The Orioles' rotation has produced back-to-back quality starts for the first time since an Oct. 3 doubleheader against the Yankees. They hadn't done it on the road since Sept. 23-24 in Washington, with Chris Tillman and Tyler Wilson doing the honors.

Last night's 3-1 win over the Rays was the first for the Orioles while collecting three hits or fewer since July 30, 2013 against the Astros.

Update: Tyler Wilson retired the first two batters in the top of the first inning, but Jose Abreu reached on an infield hit and Todd Frazier homered to left field for a 2-0 lead.

Wilson got ahead 0-2, but he couldn't put away Frazier.

Update II: Adam Jones doubled to center field with two outs in the bottom of the first to score Manny Machado, but Chris Davis was thrown out at the plate.

Jones was 1-for-33 versus John Danks.

Machado walked with one out and Davis singled to center field.