Wrapping up a 10-5 loss

SARASOTA, Fla. - Hunter Harvey didn't flash a 98 mph fastball today, keeping it in Fort Myers, but he tossed a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts in an impressive outing.

Harvey's heater was 95-97 mph and he used it to strike out Christian Arroyo and strand Kevin Kiermaier, who walked with one out and moved up on a wild pitch.

Former major league closer Bryan Harvey watched as his son also struck out Mike Zunino in the Orioles' 10-5 loss to the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Guillermo Heredia, who hit a long two-run homer off Alex Cobb, flied to center field against Harvey.

"He was throwing hard," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I think he was throwing mid-to-upper 90s. He looked a little bit more relaxed this time out than last time. I don't think the adrenaline was high. I felt like he was pitching a little bit more. Threw a couple of really good sliders. So yeah, great outing by Hunter."

Hyde explained his decision to remove Cobb after two-thirds of an inning and only 23 pitches. Cobb continued to throw in the bullpen before heading to the clubhouse.

"His first time out on the big field, I just didn't want to extend him," Hyde said. "We finished him up in the bullpen. I just didn't want to stretch it any further than he went. He threw 20-something more in the bullpen to kind of finish off his day.

"He threw some borderline pitches early that didn't go his way. Threw a couple really good splits to (Ji-Man) Choi and just hung that one that kind of ended his afternoon. But first time in front of fans, you can chalk it up to he just hasn't been out there and then just not getting a couple pitches early.

"The first hitter of the game, saw a little frustration there with him, but got through it and finished up in the bullpen and I think he's going to take that into his next outing and be better."

Chance Sisco homered to left field, his fourth of the spring to go with nine RBIs. DJ Stewart doubled in the second and scored on Eric Young Jr.'s single.

Stewart also doubled to lead off the sixth. He was 1-for-9 before today.

Young doubled in the fifth and came home on Richie Martin's single. Martin stole third base and scored on a wild pitch to reduce the lead to 6-4.

The Rule 5 pick wasn't done. He also singled in the sixth to load the bases with one out. Mike Yastrzemski struck out, but Luis Santos walked Jomar Reyes to cut the lead to 6-5.

Martin is 5-for-10 with a double, two RBIs, a walk and two steals.

Young reached base three times with a single, double and walk and is 4-for-9 with a home run. He's got to keep pace with the likes of Stewart, Joey Rickard and Yusniel Diaz, though he isn't the type of player who needs to be pushed.

"Me in particular, no," he said. "I've been around long enough to know I've had bad spring and made the team and I've had awesome springs and didn't make the team. At the end of the day those are front office decisions and I can't control those, so all I can do is go out there and get myself ready for opening day and wherever that's going to be, hopefully going full throttle by the time opening day comes.

"You definitely want to go out there and play well, but mostly feel comfortable and that's the biggest thing. Each game get one percent better than the day before. And as long as I can keep saying that each day, then it's a good turnout for me."

The Orioles signed Young to a minor league deal to provide a veteran presence in an otherwise youngish outfield.

"Still always going for improvement, but like I said, keep getting better than the day before," he said. "I felt comfortable at the plate. I was able to see the ball. I was actually happy with the walk that I drew at the end. I was able to see the movement on the balls and lay off it. Those types of at-bats are even more (important), especially in spring training. I knew that I was actually seeing the ball, letting it get deep and being comfortable enough to lay off it."

Chris Davis grounded out, flied to center field and walked in three plate appearances. He's 1-for-9 with a home run, two walks and five strikeouts this spring.

Mychal Givens allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning in his first appearance.

"I thought Mike the same thing (as Cobb), just hasn't been out there and kind of getting his feet wet," Hyde said. "Again, threw a couple pitches that he thought probably were strikes. They were probably borderline. But the velo was there, came off the field healthy, so I thought it was a productive first time out for him, as well."

Josh Rogers retired all six batters he faced, with Yastrzemski making a diving catch in center to rob Jake Cronenworth, but the Rays scored twice off Luis Ortiz in the eighth and Anthony Bemboom hit a two-run homer off him in the ninth.

"I think he might have tired there a little bit late," Hyde said. "When Louie gets the ball thigh-high, they took some good swings off him. I know he is competing out there. Just hasn't had the results that he's hoped for. But throwing strikes for the most part and his secondary stuff has looked pretty good. He just made some mistakes at some bad times."

Hyde's bullpen lost left-hander Donnie Hart earlier in the day, which contributed to the heavier usage of pitchers brought over from minor league camp. Plus, there's that pesky night game in Tampa.

The Orioles claimed infielder Hanser Alberto off waivers from the Giants, bringing him back to the organization for a second time. The Giants claimed him on Feb. 22.

"I think he's a really good player," Hyde said. "I like him a lot. He's just a really, really steady middle infielder. Incredible energy in our locker room and in the dugout. I'm excited to get him back in our camp."