Mychal Givens has homecoming at The Trop (O's down 3-0)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The four-game series against the Rays offers a chance for Orioles reliever Mychal Givens to pitch at home.

Givens was drafted as a shortstop in the second round in 2009 out of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, about a 20-25 minute drive to Tropicana Field.

"It's a good feeling to be home," he said. "I haven't played here since high school. It's a good feeling to be back and be around family and friends.

"They've seen some games on TV because they're broadcast there. They've seen me in high school when I was a two-way prospect."

The series isn't expected to draw large crowds - empty seats will provide the backdrop - but Givens' supporters could fatten the totals.

"Oh, we'll see tonight. We'll see this weekend, as well," he said.

"There should be a lot of support down in south Tampa, so they've been letting me know they're going to show up."

The Rays will appreciate the boost in attendance.

"It's tough," said Givens, who's 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 16 relief appearances. "A lot of people come from way out there across the bridge. Hopefully, we get more because we're playing here and my friends and family show up."

Givens said he hasn't been pestered. His phone isn't blowing up from relatives and friends reaching out to him.

"No, my fans, my friends and family are really good," he said. "They'll show up at the game and try to say 'hi' to me, then I try to focus on the game."

Givens has been up and down between the majors and Double-A Bowie, but he checked the schedule and circled these dates.

"Definitely," he said. "You're always happy to be home and play in front of family and friends. I'm just happy to be up here in the big leagues and see my accomplishments (with friends and family) and for the support of Tampa."

Though he's never pitched at Tropicana Field as a professional, he's no stranger to the dome. He played high school games in the building.

"I did both. I pitched and played short," he said. "It's a lot different than a lot of other stadiums. It's good to come back and be able to play back out there again."

In case you missed it, former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro signed with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, where oldest son Patrick plays as an infielder.

Palmeiro, who turns 51 next week, will play in the final three games. Read more about it here.

"The chance to play with my son is an opportunity the Skeeters have offered me and I'm very excited to make it happen this weekend," Palmeiro said.

Does it surprise anyone that Palmeiro only made four All-Star teams?

Patrick, who spent three seasons in the White Sox organization, is batting .248 with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs for Sugar Land, which is managed by former Twins third baseman Gary Gaetti.

Update: The Rays took a 1-0 lead off Chris Tillman in the bottom of the third inning on John Jaso's home run to right field.

The ball got stuck in the C ring and never came down, the fifth time it's happened in fair territory. David Ortiz was the last in 2008.

Update II: The Rays scored twice in the sixth on back-to-back infield hits to take a 3-0 lead. Tillman is charged with all three runs, the last scoring after Brian Matusz replaced him.

Matt Wieters had a costly throwing error on an attempted pickoff at first base that allowed James Loney to advance to third base. He scored on Tim Beckham's single off Tillman's glove.

Kevin Kiermaier reached on a slow roller to Chris Davis, diving to avoid the tag, and Steven Souza, Jr. raced home from second base.

Tillman is charged with three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with three walks, four strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 108 pitches, 65 for strikes.