Notes on Britton, Hardy, Davis, Tillman and Bundy (O's down 10-3)

Closer Zach Britton said he felt great during last night's appearance at Single-A Frederick, when he got two ground balls and a strikeout in the ninth inning.

Britton was referring to his left forearm, which has been pain-free for an extended period, and the command of his pitches.

If he was calling the shots, Britton would skip Monday's outing at Triple-A Norfolk and come off the disabled list. But the Orioles want to extend his rehab assignment to a seventh appearance before activating him Wednesday in Milwaukee.

The Orioles will need to clear a spot for Britton on the 40-man roster. They could transfer infielder Ryan Flaherty to the 60-day disabled list, since he still hasn't been cleared to resume throwing.

An MRI on shortstop J.J. Hardy's ribcage revealed a fractured bone, to go along with his fractured wrist. The injury occurred after Hardy and outfielder Trey Mancini made contact in left field while chasing a fly ball at Yankee Stadium.

Hardy stayed upright and Mancini went low, as they're instructed in spring training to avoid a more serious collision. But Hardy fell on Mancini.

"He said it didn't really bother him that much to play and he said it didn't really think much of it other than being a little sore, but it hasn't gone away," said manager Buck Showalter. "He noticed while we were on this last trip how sore he still was there, so for safety sake and just to make sure, we took a picture of it. He's got a cracked rib there, a slight fracture. Hairline, I think they said.

"It should manage in the time that the wrist manages, but it was a good catch. They said, 'Let's take a picture of it just in case something else.' You never know."

First baseman Chris Davis is scheduled to test his right oblique by throwing on Monday.

"If that goes well, he'll proceed to some more stressful baseball activities," Showalter said. "Hopefully, he'll be swinging a bat that week.

"We have something set up if he feels well enough for games during the break. Of course, Chris says he'll be ready before the break. We'll see how Monday goes. If that first step goes well, we'll have an idea of what we're dealing with."

Davis will accompany the team on its road trip next week to Milwaukee and Minnesota.

Chris Tillman also will fly with the team, but his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Brewers may not happen. His wife Christina is past her due date with the couple's first child and doctors may induce labor that day.

The Orioles are making contingency plans if Tillman has to leave, making sure that one of the pitchers is "properly available," Showalter said. "Here or there."

"I saw his wife down the hall last night," Showalter said. "I think the word is 'miserable.' She's up most of the night. So is he."

Dylan Bundy will start this afternoon and again on Thursday in Minnesota on his normal turn before the Orioles push him to the back of the rotation following the break.

"The plan right now is for him to be the fifth starter out of the break," Showalter said. "That'll give him, what, 11 days? I've got it mapped out through the start of September. We'll see how it goes."

For the Rays
Mallex Smith CF
Corey Dickerson DH
Evan Longoria 3B
Logan Morrison 1B
Steven Souza Jr. RF
Wilson Ramos C
Shane Peterson LF
Adeiny Hechavarria SS
Taylor Featherston 2B

Jake Odorizzi RHP

Update: The Orioles waited out a 1 hour, 12 minute rain delay and fell behind 3-0 in the first inning.

Mallex Smith led off with a single and scored from first base with one out on Evan Longoria's hit-and-run single into right-center field. Logan Morrison followed with a two-run homer to center field, his 23rd this season.

Update II: Craig Gentry's two-out single into center field in the second inning scored Mark Trumbo and reduced the lead to 3-1. Trumbo walked with one out and Welington Castillo reached on an infield hit with two outs.

Update III: Morrison and Steven Souza Jr. hit back-to-back home runs in the third to give Tampa Bay a 5-1 lead. Bundy has thrown 76 pitches in three innings.

Morrison's ball is the 91st to reach Eutaw Street and the 51st by an opponent.

Update IV: Wilson Ramos hit a three-run homer off Alec Asher in the fifth inning, the ball landing in the visiting bullpen, to increase the Rays' lead to 8-1.

Update V: Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the fifth to reduce the lead to 8-3. Schoop has 16 home runs this season.

Update VI: Asher gave up two more runs in the sixth on doubles by Smith and Corey Dickerson and Gentry's throwing error. The Rays lead 10-3.