Flaherty gets rare start tonight (we're tied)

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles lineup tonight for the first time since April 15 in Toronto, which coincided with Ryan Flaherty's only start this month.

Hardy got to rest two days later with the Orioles having their fourth open date on the schedule. He played in the next eight games without a break, going 4-for-30, after a 7-for-16 stretch in the previous four games.

The Orioles are off again Thursday, giving Hardy an extended rest before Friday night's series opener at Yankee Stadium.

"We've had a lot of off-days this month and we've played in real some tough conditions and I just want him to get off good, stay healthy," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's a big part of ... There's a lot of things that are affected if he has a physical issue that we try to overcome. But trying to do it before an off-day gives him two.

"It's going to be a challenging road trip, like they all are. Especially this one. Tried to do it before the off-day."

Flaherty has five plate appearances in four games. He hasn't been on the field since April 16 in Toronto, his last at-bat coming the previous day.

"I really need to get Ryan out there," Showalter said. "He's only started one game. We're going to need him and we need to get him out there.

"He's the only guy I just don't feel like we've really gotten in the flow like we should."

Outfielder Joey Rickard should be back on the active roster Friday. He played in three games at Single-A Delmarva, including both ends of today's doubleheader, and went 3-for-10 with two runs scored and two strikeouts.

"The plan was for him to DH the first game and play in the second, but I was talking with Brian Graham, who was there with Ryan (Minor). Said the field was really slick and muddy," Showalter said.

"Of course, what are you telling Ryan McKenna? But Joey DHed both games, felt good and he's on his way back."

The plan calls for Rickard to rejoin the Orioles Friday, "but see what transpires tonight and tomorrow," Showalter said.

Pitching coach Roger McDowell will accompany Chris Tillman to Woodbridge, Va., for Thursday's start with Single-A Frederick.

"Trying to talk Roger out of going to Potomac, but he's going to Potomac with him," Showalter said. "That was like talking to one of our mules."

The Yankees are starting left-hander CC Sabathia on Friday, Michael Pineda Saturday and left-hander Jordan Montgomery Sunday. As I wrote earlier, the Orioles are countering with Kevin Gausman, Ubaldo Jiménez and Wade Miley.

Steve Johnson has reported to Triple-A Norfolk and will be activated on Thursday.

Update: The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on one-out singles by Hyun Soo Kim - his 100th career major league hit - Jonathan Schoop and Flaherty. Seth Smith collected his second single and two Rays errors allowed Flaherty and Smith to score.

Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier's throw skipped past third baseman Evan Longoria for the first error, and pitcher Alex Cobb's throw to third glanced off Flaherty's helmet.

Smith ends up scoring on a single into center field.

Update II: Tim Beckham led off the third inning with a home run, the first surrendered by Dylan Bundy this season, and the Orioles lead was cut to 3-1.

Bundy's velocity is down. Beckham hit a four-seamer clocked at 88 mph, according to the pitch tracker on MLB.com.

Update III: Bundy retired eight in a row and Beckham homered again to reduce the lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning.

Update IV: The Rays tied the game in the eighth after Derek Norris' leadoff double against Mychal Givens. Donnie Hart hit Rickie Weeks Jr. and walked Kevin Kiermaier on nine pitches. Darren O'Day got Evan Longoria to ground into a 3-2 force, but Chris Davis had to settle for the out at second base after making a diving stop on Brad Miller's grounder.

O'Day let only one inherited runner score, the run charged to Givens.

The Orioles stranded two runners in the bottom of the eighth.