Hardy sits with Pearce, Young in lineup for Orioles vs. Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are 8-1 after being shut out this season. They've won six in a row. Can they make it seven today? They'll do it with shortstop J.J. Hardy at least starting the day on the bench. He's out of today's lineup with Delmon Young at designated hitter, getting his first start since Monday, and Steve Pearce at first, playing for the first time since Aug. 29. Pearce had been out with a strained abdominal muscle. Jimmy Paredes was originally starting at third with Chris Davis sitting, but the Orioles posted a new lineup with Davis replacing Paredes. Ryan Flaherty is at shortstop in Hardy's place. Nick Markakis, Davis and Flaherty are the only left-handed hitters in today's lineup against Rays left-hander Drew Smyly. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce 1B Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz LF Chris Davis 3B Delmon Young DH Nick Hundley C Ryan Flaherty SS Jonathan Schoop 2B Kevin Gausman RHP For the Rays Ben Zobrist 2B David DeJesus DH Evan Longoria 3B James Loney 1B Wil Myers RF Matt Joyce LF Yunel Escobar SS Kevin Kiermaier CF Curt Casali C Drew Smyly LHP The Orioles are starting Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman and Wei-Yin Chen in the Red Sox series that begins Monday at Fenway Park. Boston's starters are TBA. Markakis' next multi-hit game will give him 50 for the sixth time in his career (also 2007-11). Eddie Murray is the only other Oriole to record six seasons with 50 or more (1978-80, 1982-84). Markakis is fourth in Orioles history with 432 multi-hit games behind Cal Ripken Jr. (845), Brooks Robinson (745) and Murray (596). Jones' two-hit game Friday gave him 50 multi-hit games for the second straight season. Nineteen years ago today, Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record by playing in his 2,131st.