O's look to even season and all-time series with Tampa Bay

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

September 14, 2011, 4:18pm

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A win here tonight by the Orioles would, not only be damaging to Tampa Bay's playoff hopes, but also allow the Orioles to end the season series with Tampa tied at nine wins each. The Rays have won the last three season series by 15-3, 10-8 and 11-7 last year. Plus, the all-time series would be even at 120 wins each with an Orioles victory in this game. By making this start tonight, Jeremy Guthrie becomes the 11th hurler in O's history to have four seasons of 30 or more starts. Jim Palmer did that 11 times and the others to do it are Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, Scott McGregor, Mike Flanagan, Mike Mussina, Dennis Martinez, Mike Boddicker, Milt Pappas and Scott Erickson. Guthrie enters tonight with a career mark of 5-10 and 4.15 ERA in 18 starts against Tampa Bay. The Orioles have a 4-2 lead in the fifth after a Chris Davis three-run homer to left on an 0-2 pitch in the last of the fourth. It was his second Orioles homer. He hit one in his second game with the O's, but had gone 14 games without a homer until tonight.