Tampa Bay @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 2, Baltimore 9
J.J. Hardy enjoyed a career night on Tuesday - and as a result, the Baltimore Orioles found themselves back in a tie atop the American League East. Hardy will look to maintain his hot hand on Wednesday when the Orioles continue their three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Hardy collected four hits - including a pair of two-run homers - and drove in five as Baltimore cruised to a 9-2 triumph in the series opener.
Hardy, who went 4-for-5 Tuesday, has 12 hits in his last 30 at-bats to help Baltimore pull even with New York. All was not rosy for the Orioles, who saw Jason Hammel exit with a right knee injury. Hammel was making his second start since coming off the disabled list to undergo right arthroscopic knee surgery. As for Tampa Bay, its third loss in five contests dropped it two games back of the division co-leaders.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN2, MASN2
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (9-8, 4.28 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (6-4, 3.62)
Cobb collected his fifth straight victory after yielding two runs in seven solid innings in a 5-2 win over the Yankees on Sept. 4. The 24-year-old has permitted just five earned runs and struck out 31 in those victories. Cobb has yet to face the Orioles in his brief career.
Gonzalez has sandwiched two difficult performances around a stellar one in his last three trips to the mound. The 28-year-old rookie allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-4 loss to Toronto on Wednesday. Gonzalez handcuffed Tampa Bay on Aug. 5, scattering two hits over seven innings before exiting the scoreless contest. The Orioles went on to post a 1-0 victory.
WALK-OFFS
1. After missing his scheduled start on Saturday, Tampa Bay's David Price pitched a bullpen session on Tuesday without issue. Manager Joe Maddon said he would wait to see how Price feels on Wednesday before officially naming his starter for Friday's tilt versus New York.
2. Baltimore's Matt Wieters, who went 3-for-3 with a two-run double, has six hits and as many RBIs in his last four contests. Wieters is 6-for-14 in his last four games versus Tampa Bay.
3. Rays OF Desmond Jennings was held out of the starting lineup for the third straight game with a balky lower back. Jennings admitted that he expects to play on Wednesday.