Green delivers in clutch, Orioles win 9-8

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Have yourself a day, Nick Green. Green, who was 3-for-27 with two RBIs and 13 strikeouts before today, lined a two-out, two-run single into center field in the ninth inning to give the Orioles a 9-8 victory over the Rays. Mike Ballard threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Brendan Harris and Xavier Avery singled, and Josh Bell walked to load the bases for Green. Manager Buck Showalter did the usual drill after the game, meeting with reporters on the field as players filed into the clubhouse. On Brian Roberts: "It was a good start for him. He saw 10 or 11 pitches. I say 'start.' It was a kind of a pick-up-where-he-left-off thing." On Brad Bergesen: "He had some counts in his favor and couldn't quite finish it off. He had 0-2 counts, two outs and nobody on and gave up one and borderline two runs. I'd like to see, when he gets himself in some good counts, and not necessarily strike the guy out, but make quality pitches. There were some firm balls hit off him today. Hopefully, we're getting there. I thought his plane was a little better. I've seen him more crisp, which is normal. He'll get the ball at least a couple more times and we'll see where we are with it." On Derrek Lee: "He's going to come in tomorrow for treatment. It's one of those things where, if during the season, I don't really know if he could have played. Probably not. He said it felt better when he left today. It's not something you push and worry about setting it back." Showalter added that Lee could play in a minor league game tomorrow or start against the Yankees on Tuesday. Depends how the veteran's foot is feeling. On Justin Duchscherer, who threw off flat ground again today: "He feels good. I'm not sure when and what the next step is going to be. It's kind of in his hands. I talk to him every day. It's something Mark (Connor) and I are going to talk about on the way back."