The Texas Rangers have traded Mattoon’s Kyle Hudson to the Tampa Rays as the major-league baseball season gets started.

Hudson, who began last year in Class A and advanced to the majors with the Baltimore Orioles last September, was released by the Orioles over the winter.

He then signed with the Rangers, who cut sent him to the minors the past week.

On Saturday, the Rays obtained the outfielder.

See more in Monday’s JG-TC.

The Tampa Bay Rays will play a total of 72 regular-season games against AL East opponents. That includes the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rays will begin the 2012 MLB season with a three-game home series against the Yankees from April 6 through April 8. The Rays will finish their season with a three-game home series against the Orioles from October 1 through October 3. 18 of the first 26 divisional games will be played on the road.

Here is a brief rundown of the Rays’ schedule against divisional opponents for the 2012 MLB season.

Complete MLB schedule can be found HERE.

April 2012 (3 Home, 7 Road)

April 6-8: New York Yankees

April 13-16: at Boston Red Sox

April 17-19: at Toronto Blue Jays

May 2012 (5 Home, 11 Road)

May 8-10: at New York Yankees

May 11-13: at Baltimore Orioles

May 14-15: at Toronto Blue Jays

May 16-17: Boston Red Sox

May 21-23: Toronto Blue Jays

May 25-27: at Boston Red Sox

June 2012 (3 Home, 3 Road)

June 1-3: Baltimore Orioles

June 5-7: at New York Yankees

July 2012 (6 Home, 3 Road)

July 2-4: New York Yankees

July 13-15: Boston Red Sox

July 24-26: at Baltimore Orioles

August 2012 (6 Home, 2 Road)

August 3-5: Baltimore Orioles

August 7-9: Toronto Blue Jays

August 30-31: at Toronto Blue Jays

September And October 2012 (13 Home, 10 Road)

September 1-2: at Toronto Blue Jays (Continued)

September 3-5: New York Yankees

September 11-13: at Baltimore Orioles

September 14-16: at New York Yankees

September 17-20: Boston Red Sox

September 21-23: Toronto Blue Jays

September 26-27: at Boston Red Sox

October 1-3: Baltimore Orioles

MLB schedules subject to change due to rainouts or any other unanticipated postponement.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months. He can be found on Twitter HERE.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The Tampa Bay Rays are loose and raring to go,
ready to work overtime—if necessary—to win the AL wild card.

“Whatever it takes,” designated hitter Johnny Damon(notes) said. “It’s been a
fun ride and hopefully it continues.”

The Rays’ improbable bid for a third playoff berth in four years comes down
to the final day of the regular season after Tuesday night’s 5-3 victory over
the New York Yankees left them tied for the wild card with Boston. The reeling
Red Sox held off the Baltimore Orioles 8-7.

If the teams remain tied after Wednesday night’s season finales, they will
meet in a one-game playoff at Tropicana Field on Thursday afternoon.

“We have to focus on ourselves … play our game and not worry about the
other side of it,” manager Joe Maddon said. “That will eventually take care of
itself.”

Matt Joyce(notes) and Ben Zobrist(notes) homered, the bullpen shut down the Yankees after
starter Jeremy Hellickson(notes) pitched six strong innings, and the Rays kept the
score close by turning the third triple play in franchise history.

Throw in Joyce, whose three-run homer wiped out a 3-2 deficit in the seventh
— playing on an injured foot—and that the Rays were without Casey Kotchman(notes)
after the first baseman experienced tightness in his chest and was taken to a
hospital for tests, and no wonder Tampa Bay feels it has no limits.

“All the indicators are there, let’s just keep pushing,” Maddon said.
“When those things kind of show up, it really promotes even more fight, I
think. There’s more of a believability about the moment.”

Joyce’s homer off former teammate Rafael Soriano(notes) (2-3) was the All-Star’s
first in more than three weeks. Zobrist hit a two-run drive off Bartolo Colon(notes) in
the second, and the Rays kept the Yankees from busting the game opened with the
triple play that bailed Hellickson out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

“Everybody’s thirsty for offense, and we’d like to score more,” Maddon
said. “But we’re built around pitching and defense.”

Jake McGee(notes) (4-2) pitched one scoreless inning to get the win. With a crowd
of 22,820 standing and cheering, Kyle Farnsworth(notes) got the final three outs for
his 25th save in 31 chances. The victory was the fourth straight for Tampa Bay,
which trailed the Red Sox by nine games before battling back into the wild-card
race.

Russell Martin(notes) hit a solo homer for the Yankees in the third, but also
grounded into the triple play that prevented them from building on the 3-2 lead
Nick Swisher(notes) gave them with a RBI double.

The Yankees, who clinched the division title and homefield advantage
throughout the AL playoffs last week, rested Derek Jeter(notes) and plan to play most—
if not all—of their regular lineup again on Wednesday. Manager Joe Girardi
remained undecided on a starting pitcher for the finale, but it figures to be a
reliever.

Tampa Bay will go with All-Star lefty David Price(notes), who’s 12-13 after
finishing second in balloting for the AL Cy Young Award a year ago.

The Rays said he’s up to the task.

“I always have the utmost confidence when David pitches. I really do,”
Maddon said. “Every time he pitches we feel like we’re going to win that night.
I know some things have not necessarily gone his way this year, but in a very
tight moment, you always feel very comfortable about how David will pitch.”

Despite squandering their big lead with a miserable September, the Red Sox
are excited about still having a chance to make the postseason on the final day.

“I think it’s really good for baseball (but) not so good for my stomach,”
Boston manager Terry Francona said. “It’s exciting. If you don’t want to show
up (Wednesday) and play, you’ve got no pulse.”

ST. PETERSBURG — Like the rest of us, the Tampa Bay Rays have been accidental tourists witnessing one of the greatest implosions in baseball history.

The Boston Red Sox meltdown is truly epic. They’ve lost 17 of 23 games, despite beating the Baltimore Orioles, 8-7, in the next-to-the-last game of the regular season Tuesday evening.

But the flip side of this tale of two cities is the Rays.

As the Red Sox collapse, the Rays chase at a frantic pace, with poise and purpose.

They beat the New York Yankees for the second time in as many nights here Tuesday. The dazzling snapshots of a 5-3 victory included the third triple play in team history, a three-run homer by Matt Joyce in the seventh inning, and a second inning single by Orlando’s Johnny Damon that moved him past Lou Gehrig into sole possession of 57th place on the career hits list with 2,722.

You want drama. We got drama.

The Red Sox are 90-71. The Rays are 90-71.

They will begin the final night of the regular-season in a tie for a wild-card spot in the American League East. If the teams remain tied after Wednesday night, the Rays will play host to a one-game playoff Thursday afternoon.

“We still have a chance to control our own destiny,” said Damon, a graduate of Dr. Phillips High School. “…This game is amazing. You never know what to expect coming to the ball park every single day. We did some pretty good stuff.”

Here’s the ‘stuff’ the Rays are made of: They have a shot at becoming the first team in baseball history to advance to the postseason after trailing by nine games in September .

The flesh wounds grow deeper for Boston, since the arch-enemy Yankees are in town here to face the Rays. Having clinched the division title, the Yankees can send most of their regulars to Bern’s Steak House for a fine Châteaubriand, or if the mood, strikes, meet up at one of the area’s fine adult establishments tonight. Doesn’t matter.

The Red Sox have no one to blame but themselves for this mess. So anybody feel sorry for these guys?

“I don’t feel sorry for them I can’t tell you that frankly because we’re trying to win too,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday when I posed the pre-game question .” It’s a competitive situation. I can feel for them. I get what they are going through because I’ve lived it. But it’s up to us to benefit from it.”

Beneficiaries indeed. The Rays have been solid of late, winning 15 of their last 23. But it’s not as if it’s a Boys Gone Wild scenario.

The tale of two cities is much more about one of the biggest meltdowns in baseball history. Give the Rays credit for their scrappiness and hanging tough, but you’d be reading something else in this space at the moment if the Red Sox hadn’t left their backbone in their duffel bags.

The painful twists and turns abound for the Red Sox as pennant fever reaches a lukewarm pitch in the Tampa Bay area. Only 18,772 fans showed up on Monday for the first game of the Yankees series, a painful indictment of the apathetic woes of the city toward its baseball team. That number “grew” to 22,820 fans on Tuesday.

Ridiculous comes to mind, and that’s one of the milder adjectives.

The Rays made the playoffs last season. And then it gutted the payroll this year — losing stars like Carl Crawford . And with its payroll down to $41.9 million, Tampa Bay is still in the chase for the playoffs.

The Red Sox — with a $160 million payroll that includes Crawford — are set to go down as one of the most infamous embarrassments in sports history.

“We just to worry about ourselves,” Maddon said after the victory on Tuesday. “We have to try to win our game that night and not worry about the other side of it. That will take care of itself.”

Which story are pulling for?

The comeback or the collapse?

I’m pulling for the greatest collapse ever.

May as well shoot for the stars, boys.

Tampa Bay scored 13 unanswered runs
and then held on for a 15-8 win against the New York Yankees
that pulled the Rays within two games of Boston in the chase for
the American League wild-card spot.

B.J. Upton, Johnny Damon and Ben Zobrist each hit a home
run and drove in three runs for the Rays, who had lost the three
previous games in the series at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees had clinched the AL East division title a day
earlier by sweeping Tampa Bay in a doubleheader. Several New
York regulars had last night off as Matt Moore struck out 11 in
five scoreless innings in his first Major League Baseball start.

“Obviously it wasn’t all their lineup, but there was a lot
of good hitters in that lineup and he attacked them,” Rays
manager Joe Maddon told reporters. “His composure, Yankee
Stadium, throwing strikes, all those things speak to the makeup
of Matt Moore.”

The Red Sox (88-68), who were off yesterday, have six games
left — three at New York starting tonight, followed by three at
Baltimore. The Rays (86-70) also have six remaining, all at home
– three against Toronto this weekend, followed by a three-game
visit from the Yankees.

The Los Angeles Angels lost 4-3 at Toronto in 12 innings
and remained three games behind the Red Sox for the wild card.
The Angels (85-71) also have six games remaining.

The Texas Rangers, who lost 4-3 at Oakland yesterday, lead
the Angels by five games in the AL West. The Detroit Tigers, who
already clinched the AL Central title, lost 6-5 against the
Baltimore Orioles.

The St. Louis Cardinals blew a four-run lead in the ninth
inning in an 8-6 loss at home to the New York Mets, and fell two
games behind Atlanta in the chase for the National League’s
wild-card spot. The Braves, who have lost 13 of their last 20
games, had the day off.

The Cardinals led 6-2 entering the ninth inning at Busch
Stadium before three St. Louis relievers allowed the Mets to
score six runs on four walks, three hits and two errors. Willie
Harris’s two-out, two-run single broke a 6-6 tie.

“Don’t make a mistake and say we’re heartbroken,”
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told reporters. “Our heart’s
beating. We won the series, get ready for tomorrow.”

The San Francisco Giants lost 8-2 at the Los Angeles
Dodgers and trail the Braves by four games for the wild card.
The Giants are six games back in the NL West of the Arizona
Diamondbacks, who didn’t play yesterday.

The Philadelphia Phillies, who already have clinched the NL
East title, lost their sixth straight game, falling 6-1 at home
against the Washington Nationals. The Milwaukee Brewers, who
lead the NL Central by five games over St. Louis, were off.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Rob Gloster in San Francisco at
rgloster@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net

Read More: mlb standings, CC Sabathia (P – NYY), Robinson Cano (2B – NYY), Phil Hughes (P – NYY), Mariano Rivera (P – NYY), Eduardo Nunez (3B – NYY), Hector Noesi (P – NYY), New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees, Sep 21, 2011 1:05 PM EDT

The New York Yankees are in the American League playoffs for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons. The Yankees clinched a playoff berth Wednesday afternoon with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of a doubleheader. The Yankees can clinch the American League East title outright Wednesday night in the second game if they win and the second-place Boston Red Sox lose to the Baltimore Orioles.

The Yankees trailed, 2-1, heading to the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday. Eduardo Nunez tied the game with a solo home run off Tampa Bay started James Shields. Later in the inning Robinson Cano drove a double over the head of Rays center fielder B.J. Upton to drive in two runs and provide the Yankees with their winning margin.

Mariano Rivera, the all-time saves leaders, closed the game with a perfect ninth inning.

Phil Hughes was supposed to start for the Yankees, but he was replaced by Hector Noesi due to the lingering effects of back spasms. The Yankees wound up using eight pitchers and their bullpen put together 6.1 innings of shutout relief.

Yankee ace CC Sabathia will seek his 20th victory of the season in the second game.

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays couldn’t hide their disappointment after losing another game to last-place Baltimore.

The Rays botched an excellent opportunity to gain ground in the wild-card race, getting only three hits over seven innings against Jeremy Guthrie in a 6-2 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday night.

After watching Boston lose to Toronto in an afternoon game, the Rays took the field with a chance to close within three games of the Red Sox in the AL wild-card hunt.

Instead, they lost a second straight game to the team with the second-worst record in the American League.

“They shut us down for two games. We can’t permit that to happen,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

Especially against the pitcher with the most losses in baseball. Guthrie (8-17) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and allowed only two runs to win a second consecutive start for the first time this season.

“We have to figure out a way to get it done,” Maddon said. “We can’t miss out on these opportunities.”

Next up for the Rays: Four games against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, beginning Thursday night. Tampa Bay swept a three-game series from Boston last weekend and is 9-5 against the Red Sox, including 4-1 on the road.

“Let’s get out of here and get up there, get our mojo back,” Maddon said.

Wade Davis (10-9) gave up a three-run homer to Chris Davis and a solo shot to Nolan Reimold. Wade Davis, who allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, is 4-1 in six career starts at Camden Yards.

Matt Wieters added a two-run shot in the eighth off Matt Moore, who was making his major league debut. It was Wieters’ 20th home run, the third in three games.

“Obviously, we wanted this win and last night,” Rays center fielder B.J. Upton said. “But we’re going into Boston for four, so we need to flush this one as quickly as we can.”

If the Rays fall short in their bid to reach the playoffs, they can blame either a 1-8 start or their 9-9 record against the Orioles, who are 14-33 against the rest of the AL East.

“These guys have our number right now. They have played us well all year,” Maddon said.

Guthrie improved to 6-10 lifetime against Tampa Bay, 2-3 this season. He also beat the Rays on opening day.

“He just kept the ball down and didn’t leave it over the middle of plate,” Upton said. “He has always had good stuff and he showed that today.”

Jim Johnson worked the final two innings for his sixth save, the second in two nights.

Guthrie retired the first eight batters before Reid Brignac singled in the third. Reimold opened the bottom half with his 10th home run, a low-flying line drive that glanced off the top of the left-field wall and into the seats.

The lead didn’t last long. Guthrie walked two of the first three batters in the fourth and Matt Joyce cleared the bases with a two-out double.

In the Baltimore half, Vladimir Guerrero beat out a slow roller to third, Wieters doubled and Chris Davis hit an opposite-field homer to left on an 0-2 pitch for a 4-2 lead.

That was enough to saddle the Rays with another distressing defeat.

“Every time you lose a game it is a lost opportunity,” Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon said. “Just because it is Baltimore, we didn’t let up at all. The home run ball helped them out tonight, as well as last night.”

Tampa Bay’s final threat came in the seventh. Damon drew a leadoff walk and took second on a single by Joyce before Guthrie sandwiched two strikeouts around a fly ball by John Jaso.

Guthrie was more delighted about playing a part in beating the Rays than he was in earning a rare win.

“We matched up well at the plate, we pitched well and got some big hits,” the right-hander said. “It’s a nice series.”

NOTES: Rays OF Sam Fuld left in the fifth inning with a wrist injury. … Tampa Bay recalled LHP Alex Torres from Triple-A Durham and purchased the contract of 1B Dan Johnson from Durham, giving the team 34 players in uniform. … The Rays’ rotation for the Boston series: Jeremy Hellickson (12-10), James Shields (15-10), Jeff Niemann (10-7) and David Price (12-12). Tampa Bay has held the Red Sox to a .177 batting average, including .158 in Boston. … Orioles CF Adam Jones (thumb) hopes to return Friday after missing a fifth straight start. He entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth. … After a day off Thursday, the Orioles resume play Friday against another playoff hopeful, the Los Angeles Angels. Tommy Hunter (3-4) starts for Baltimore against Dan Haren (15-8).

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays missed an opportunity to gain ground in the wild-card race, getting only three hits over seven innings against Jeremy Guthrie in a 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

After watching Boston lose to Toronto in an afternoon game, the Rays took the field with a chance to close within three games of the Red Sox in the AL wild-card hunt.

Instead, Tampa Bay lost its second straight to the last-place Orioles.

Next up for the Rays: Four games against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, beginning Thursday night. Tampa Bay swept a three-game series from Boston last weekend and is 9-5 against the Red Sox, including 4-1 on the road.

Guthrie (8-17), the major league leader in losses, tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. The right-hander gave up two runs to win a second consecutive start for the first time this season.

Guthrie improved to 6-10 lifetime against Tampa Bay, 2-3 this season. He also beat the Rays on opening day.

Jim Johnson worked the final two innings for his sixth save, the second in two nights.

Tampa Bay’s Wade Davis (10-9) gave up a three-run homer to Chris Davis and a solo shot to Nolan Reimold. Wade Davis, who allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, is 4-1 in six career starts at Camden Yards.

Matt Wieters added a two-run shot in the eighth off Matt Moore, who was making his major league debut. It was Wieters’ 20th home run, the third in three games.

If the Rays fall short in their bid to reach the playoffs, they can blame either a 1-8 start or their 9-9 record against the Orioles, who are 14-33 against the rest of the AL East.

Guthrie retired the first eight batters before Reid Brignac singled in the third. Reimold opened the bottom half with his 10th home run, a low-flying line drive that glanced off the top of the left-field wall and into the seats.

The lead didn’t last long. Guthrie walked two of the first three batters in the fourth and Matt Joyce cleared the bases with a two-out double.

In the Baltimore half, Vladimir Guerrero beat out a slow roller to third, Wieters doubled and Chris Davis hit an opposite-field homer to left on an 0-2 pitch for a 4-2 lead.

Tampa Bay’s final threat against Guthrie came in the seventh. Johnny Damon drew a leadoff walk and took second on a single by Joyce before Guthrie sandwiched two strikeouts around a fly ball by John Jaso.

NOTES: Rays OF Sam Fuld left in the fifth inning with a wrist injury. … Tampa Bay recalled LHP Alex Torres from Triple-A Durham and purchased the contract of 1B Dan Johnson from Durham, giving the team 34 players in uniform. … The Rays’ rotation for the Boston series: Jeremy Hellickson (12-10), James Shields (15-10), Jeff Niemann (10-7) and David Price (12-12). Tampa Bay has held the Red Sox to a .177 batting average, including .158 in Boston. … Orioles CF Adam Jones (thumb) hopes to return Friday after missing a fifth straight start. He entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth. … After a day off Thursday, the Orioles resume play Friday against another playoff hopeful, the Los Angeles Angels. Tommy Hunter (3-4) starts for Baltimore against Dan Haren (15-8).

BALTIMORE (Reuters) – The Tampa Bay Rays have transformed from postseason afterthought to serious contender in under two weeks and manager Joe Maddon says the club already has a playoff mentality heading into a critical series against the Boston Red Sox.

Tampa Bay had its five-game win streak snapped in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles and now trail Boston by four games in the chase for the American League wild card.

But just 11 days ago, that deficit was nine games.

“We’re in the playoffs already,” he said. “We began our playoffs on September 9 on Friday night at home versus the Red Sox (a 7-2 win). “That began our playoffs.

“And now we have to keep that mentality for the next two months. We’re capable of doing that.”

Beginning with a September 3 victory over Baltimore, Tampa Bay has won eight of 10 and is chasing a Red Sox club stumbling down the homestretch.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said playing in a division with the Red Sox and New York Yankees lends itself to playing outside of the spotlight, a situation he enjoys.

“This is what we hoped for,” he said. “We wanted to be in a position at the end of the year where we have a chance to make the playoffs and fly under the radar the whole time.

“The Yankees and Red Sox are going to get the majority of the attention and rightfully so. But our goal all along is to control what we can and play meaningful games in September.”

The Rays have the top defense and earned-run average in the American League, a dangerous combination in the postseason.

“Everybody understands that if this team does get into the playoffs, there’s not a lot of teams that match up very well against our pitching staff in a five- or seven-game series,” added Longoria.

“The word is if we make the playoffs we’re going to be tough to beat. But we have to make it first. It’s not going to be easy.

“The Red Sox and Yankees are experienced ball clubs that know how to win these situations. We’re still the underdog. We still have a ways to go. But I like our chances.”

New York has a four-game lead on the Red Sox in the AL East. Tampa Bay concludes its three-game set against Baltimore Wednesday before heading to Boston for a possible make-or-break four-game series beginning Thursday.

After Boston, the Rays visit Yankee Stadium for a four-game set against the division leaders. It is a daunting schedule but the Rays are playing their best ball at the right time.

“We’re rolling on all cylinders now, from top to bottom,” said Rays outfielder Johnny Damon. “We’re making things happen. Hopefully, we can continue to be a top story out there.

“Every game right now is a make-or-break for us. We know the importance of laying it out there.”

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

By Shaun Al-Shatti

– Contributor

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Sep 13, 2011 – After frantically making up five games in five days in their last-second push to catch the wildcard-leading Boston Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays probably figured Tuesday night would offer a break. Facing soft-throwing righthander Alfredo Simon and a Baltimore Orioles team mired in a three-game slump, the matchup seemed like a mere formality. But as the old saying goes, that’s why they play the games.

Simon pitched one of his best games of the season and Orioles catcher Matt Wieter broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run bomb off J.P. Howell to crash the Rays back to Earth with a surprising 4-2 loss. Troy Patton and Jim Johnson slammed the door with a perfect ninth inning, sending the Rays to four games in back of the Red Sox after Boston’s dominant victory over Toronto.

Rays third basemen Evan Longoria nailed a two-run homer to deep left field in the sixth, but that would be all Tampa Bay could muster as the team abandoned 12 runners on base. 

Simon pitched seven innings of two-run ball with a season-high nine strikeouts in the no-decision. Rays ace David Price fared equally well, giving up two runs and four hits over six-and-two-thirds innings.

The division rivals cap their three-game series on Wednesday, as Wade Davis (10-8, 4.36) takes on Jeremy Guthrie (7-17, 4.29). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Read More: Alfredo Simon (P – BAL), Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox

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Hellickson (12-10) has two complete games this season, both against the Orioles. The rookie right-hander also tossed a four-hitter in a 3-0 win against Baltimore on May 13 during which Guthrie also went the distance.

Guthrie (6-17) gave up seven runs — three earned — and seven hits Sunday. The right-hander struck out five and walked four.

“I didn’t have a good feel for the strike zone,” Guthrie said. “I wasn’t aggressive in the strike zone.”

Tampa Bay scored four times with two out in the third to take a 6-0 lead. Evan Longoria came home when third baseman Mark Reynolds misplayed Brandon Guyer’s grounder, and Reid Brignac followed with a three-run double.

Guthrie walked three during the third and after the inning ended appeared ready to throw a Gatorade bucket all around dugout.

“Just a lot of frustration,” Guthrie said. “I grabbed it and wanted to do a lot more things with it, but kind of dragged it and set it down. Figured I didn’t deserve a drink of Gatorade that inning.”

Guthrie became the first pitcher since Kip Wells (2005 and 2007) to lose at least 17 games twice during his career. The right-hander went 10-17 in 2009.

Adam Jones homered for the Orioles, who have lost six of eight.

Hellickson improved to 4-1 in five starts — six appearances overall — against Baltimore, including wins in all three outings at home where he has surrendered two earned runs in 25 combined innings.

“You know exactly what he’s going to do and try to do,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s got a great presentation on his change up and breaking ball. Throws everything out of the same slot. He’s grasped pitching instead of throwing at a young age. He’s got a lot of ability.”

Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the second for Tampa Bay. Rodriguez’s two-out drive to left on a 1-2 pitch was his seventh homer of the season.

The Rays scored all of their runs in Saturday’s 6-3 win over Baltimore in two-out situations.

Matt Joyce drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, including a two-out solo homer in the sixth.

Jones led off the fifth with his 23rd homer. He had just three hits in his previous 37 at-bats.

Jones also doubled in the seventh, and Robert Andino and J.J. Hardy had the other hits for Baltimore. Andino’s third-inning infield hit was originally ruled an error on shortstop Brignac.

Tampa Bay designated hitter Johnny Damon tied Doc Cramer for 62nd place on the career hits list at 2,705 with a fourth-inning single.

NOTES: Jones tied his career high with 25 doubles this season. … Reynolds made two errors and has 26 on the year. … Tampa Bay CF B.J. Upton rested one day after getting five RBIs. “That was planned before (Saturday’s game),” manager Joe Maddon said. … Orioles RF Nick Markakis made his second career start at first base and had a couple nice fielding plays. … Rays INF Ben Zobrist (neck stiffness) could return to the starting lineup Monday. … Baltimore RHP Jason Berken (strained right forearm) may pitch in a simulated game Thursday. … Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz (1-7) and New York RHP Freddy Garcia (11-7) are Monday’s scheduled starters at Yankee Stadium.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Jeremy Hellickson(notes) needed just 97 pitches to
finish off his latest strong outing.

Hellickson threw a four-hitter, Reid Brignac(notes) had three RBIs and the Tampa
Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 on Sunday.

“He had a sneaky fastball that set everything else up,” Rays manager Joe
Maddon said. “When he wanted to throw the ball somewhere, it was going there.”

Hellickson (12-10) has two complete games this season, both against the
Orioles. The rookie right-hander also tossed a four-hitter in a 3-0 win against
Baltimore on May 13.

“I felt good in command of all my pitches,” Hellickson said. “Even the
curveball felt good. I was throwing that for a strike once in a while, and I was
keeping the ball down.”

Tampa Bay scored four times with two out in the third to take a 6-0 lead.
Evan Longoria(notes) came home when third baseman Mark Reynolds(notes) misplayed Brandon
Guyer’s(notes) grounder, and Brignac followed with a three-run double.

“I haven’t had too many opportunities of late to drive in some runs,”
Brignac said. “The way Jeremy was throwing, all we needed was a few runs to get
through the game.”

Brignac had driven in two runs in previous 41 home games this year.

Adam Jones(notes) homered for the Orioles. Jeremy Guthrie(notes) gave up seven runs—
three earned—and seven hits over five innings en route to his major
league-leading 17th loss.

Guthrie (6-17) walked three batters to help set up the Rays’ big third.
After the inning ended, he appeared ready to throw a Gatorade bucket all around
the dugout.

“Just a lot of frustration,” he said. “I grabbed it and wanted to do a
lot more things with it, but kind of dragged it and set it down. I figured I
didn’t deserve a drink of Gatorade that inning.”

Guthrie is the first pitcher since Kip Wells(notes) (2005 and 2007) to lose at
least 17 games twice during his career. The right-hander went 10-17 in 2009.

Hellickson improved to 4-1 in five starts—six appearances overall—
against Baltimore, including wins in all three outings at home where he has
surrendered two earned runs in 25 combined innings.

“It’s kind of frustrating … You know exactly what he’s going to do and
try to do,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s got a great
presentation on the changeup and breaking ball. Throws everything out of the
same slot. He’s grasped pitching instead of throwing at a young age.”

Sean Rodriguez(notes) hit a two-run homer in the second for Tampa Bay. Rodriguez’s
two-out drive to left on a 1-2 pitch was his seventh homer of the season.

The Rays scored all of their runs in Saturday’s 6-3 win over Baltimore in
two-out situations.

Matt Joyce(notes) drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, including a two-out solo homer
in the sixth.

Jones led off the fifth with his 23rd homer. He had just three hits in his
previous 37 at-bats.

Jones also doubled in the seventh, and Robert Andino(notes) and J.J. Hardy(notes) had the
other hits for Baltimore. Andino’s third-inning infield hit was originally ruled
an error on shortstop Brignac.

Tampa Bay designated hitter Johnny Damon(notes) tied Doc Cramer for 62nd place on
the career hits list at 2,705 with a fourth-inning single.

NOTES: Tampa Bay CF B.J. Upton(notes) rested one day after getting five RBIs.
“That was planned before (Saturday’s game),” Maddon said. … Orioles RF Nick
Markakis(notes) made his second career start at first base and had a couple nice
fielding plays. … Rays INF Ben Zobrist(notes) (neck stiffness) could return to the
starting lineup Monday. … Baltimore RHP Jason Berken(notes) (strained right forearm)
may pitch in a simulated game Thursday. … Rays RHP James Shields(notes) (13-10), who
tops the majors with 10 complete games this season, will pitch against Texas RHP
Scott Feldman(notes) (1-0) on Monday. … Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz(notes) (1-7) and New York
RHP Freddy Garcia(notes) (11-7) are Monday’s scheduled starters at Yankee Stadium.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—B.J. Upton(notes) finally found success again at
Tropicana Field.

Upton had five RBIs, Wade Davis(notes) pitched effectively into the seventh inning
and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Saturday night.

Upton hit a two-out, three-run double off Alfredo Simon(notes) (4-8) to make it 6-2
in the fifth. The Rays tied it at 2 during the first when Upton drove in two
runs on a double.

Both of Upton’s run-scoring hits came after Matt Joyce(notes) drew two-out walks.

“If you’re a competitor, you do (take it personally),” Upton said.
“Nobody likes the guy in front of him walked to get to yourself, so you want to
rise to the occasion. It just happened to work out.”

Upton had just 16 RBIs in his previous 63 home games this season. On the
road, he has knocked in 45 runs over 66 contests.

“This ballpark is a little tougher on hitters than on pitchers,” Upton
said. “But when you play here, you can expect that.”

Upton had been 1 for 23 with the bases loaded, dating back to the start of
the 2010 season, before his fifth-inning hit.

“He’s done it for us in the past and it’s in his future,” Tampa Bay
manager Joe Maddon said. “Don’t forget he’s still young (27 years old). He’s
got a lot to learn and when he does, he’s going to put up some really sick
numbers.”

Davis (9-8) allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. The
right-hander struck out five and walked four. Kyle Farnsworth(notes), the third Tampa
Bay reliever, pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

“Little bits of wildness, but overall he pitched well,” Maddon said of
Davis. “If he gets rid of the walks, he could really be dominant.”

Nick Markakis(notes) homered for the Orioles (55-82), who are now saddled with
their 14th straight losing record. Baltimore came up short in its bid to win six
straight road games for the first time since Aug. 29-Sept 4, 2004.

Simon gave up six runs and seven hits over five-plus innings. He is 1-4 with
a 5.80 ERA in his last six starts.

“The command of the fastball has got to be there to pitch at this level,”
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Tonight wasn’t one of those nights.”

Joyce had a third-inning RBI double to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead.

Markakis put the Orioles up 2-0 with a two-run shot in the first. He entered
with four hits in his previous 38 at-bats.

Baltimore got within 6-3 when Matt Wieters(notes) had a run-scoring single in the
sixth. Davis avoided further damage by getting an inning-ending double play from
Robert Andino(notes) with the bases loaded.

“We had some chances to really climb back in that thing,” Showalter said.

Wieters has driven in 15 runs over his last 13 games.

NOTES: Tampa Bay INF-OF Ben Zobrist(notes) was out of the starting lineup because
of neck stiffness and is day to day. … Orioles RHP Tommy Hunter(notes) (flulike
symptoms) remains on target to pitch Tuesday against the New York Yankees. …
Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz(notes) is scheduled to make his next start Monday in New
York after being skipped one time through the rotation. … Tampa Bay bullpen
coach Bobby Ramos continues to recover at home from a throat problem. …
Orioles INF Chris Davis(notes) (strained right shoulder) is set to play Sunday and
Monday at Double-A Bowie. … Baltimore RHP Jeremy Guthrie(notes) (6-16), who is 5-9
with a 4.09 ERA in 17 starts against Tampa Bay, will face Rays RHP Jeremy
Hellickson(notes) (11-10) in Sunday’s series finale.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Zach Britton(notes) rebounded from a tough first inning
and helped the Baltimore Orioles overcome AL All-Star David Price(notes).

Britton had his third consecutive solid start, J.J. Hardy(notes) drove in two runs
and the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.

“The only way you’re able to have a shot at that (beating Price) is have a
well-pitched game,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “Zach has come back
strong and that bodes well for him in the future.”

Britton’s current run has come after he being sidelined just under three
weeks last month due to a strained left shoulder.

“The time on the DL, I tried to use it wisely,” Britton said. “Talking to
(closer) Kevin Gregg(notes) about building a game plan. Having a plan every time you go
out there. … What you’re going to do. I feel like that’s really helped me,
especially out on the mound.”

Britton (9-9) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The left-hander
was coming off starts against Minnesota and the New York Yankees where he gave
up one run in a combined 12 innings.

Vladimir Guerrero(notes) got Baltimore’s second hit off Price (12-12) on a leadoff
single in the seventh when the Orioles scored all their runs.

Guerrero went to third when Mark Reynolds(notes) and Robert Andino(notes) drew one-out
walks. After Nolan Reimold(notes) hit a sacrifice fly and Ryan Adams(notes) re-loaded the
bases on an infield single, Hardy put Baltimore up 3-2 with a two-run single.

“He was carving us up all game,” Hardy said of Price. “I think it might
have been the only ball (a cutter) he threw over the plate all night.”

Price was touched for three runs and four hits over seven innings. The
left-hander, who struck out a team-record 14 in a 12-0 victory over Toronto last
Sunday, had 11 strikeouts and three walks.

“One pitch, that’s the game,” Rays catcher Jose Lobaton(notes) said. “I feel bad
for him. He just threw it a little bit to the middle (of the plate).”

Evan Longoria(notes) gave the Rays a 2-0 lead on a two-run double in the first. He
has 60 RBIs over his last 64 games.

After Jim Johnson(notes) threw two perfect innings, Gregg gave up one hit and two
walks in the ninth en route to his 20th save.

Pinch-hitter Sam Fuld(notes) opened the Rays’ ninth with a single and went to
second on Sean Rodriguez’s(notes) one-out grounder. After Casey Kotchman(notes) and
pinch-hitter Matt Joyce(notes) both walked to load the bases, Brandon Guyer(notes) hit a
game-ending grounder that Hardy made a nice play on at short.

“There’s a method to what he’s trying to do out there,” Showalter said of
Gregg. “I understand that. It’s not always real comfortable all the time.”

The Orioles had two on with no outs during the second, but failed to score
when Reynolds and Andino both struck out, and Reimold flied out.

After Guerrero drew just his 14th walk of the season leading off the second,
Matt Wieters(notes) followed with an opposite-field single to right for the Orioles’
first hit. Price then retired his next 14 batters before Nick Markakis(notes) reached
first on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Longoria in the sixth.

Notes: Fuld pinch-hit for 2B Ben Zobrist(notes), who left because of neck
stiffness. … Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter(notes) (flulike symptoms) remained at the
team hotel. … Tampa Bay LF Desmond Jennings(notes) had been hitless in his previous
12 at-bats before an infield single in the first. … Orioles INF Chris Davis(notes)
(strained right shoulder) is set to play in a minor league game Sunday and could
rejoin the team next week. … Baltimore LHP Jo-Jo Reyes(notes) left the team for the
birth of his child. … Orioles LHP Brian Matusz(notes), skipped this time through the
rotation, had a bullpen session and might pitch in next week’s series against
the Yankees. … Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis(notes) (8-8), 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in two home
starts against Baltimore this season, will face Orioles RHP Alfredo Simon(notes) (4-7)
on Saturday night.