Orioles Hit 3 Homers In Season-Opening Win Over Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Chris Tillman pitched into the seventh inning, and the Baltimore Orioles hit three homers while spoiling Tampa Bay's debut under rookie manager Kevin Cash with a 6-2 victory on Monday.
Tillman allowed one run and four hits, struck out four and walked three in 6 2-3 innings. He was working on a shutout in his second career opening day start before Evan Longoria led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run.
Alejandro De Aza, Steve Pearce and Ryan Flaherty connected for the defending AL East champions, and Travis Snider had three hits in his Baltimore debut.
De Aza fouled off sixth straight pitches at one point during a 10-pitch at-bat that produced his two-run homer off Chris Archer in the fifth. Pearce led off the sixth with a drive to left against Archer, who allowed four runs and six hits over 5 2-3 innings.
Snider, who was acquired in a January trade with Pittsburgh, also drove in two runs and threw a runner out at the plate from right field in the fifth.
Flaherty homered off Kirby Yates in the ninth.
Cash replaced Joe Maddon after the former Rays manager opted out of his contract and signed with the Chicago Cubs. At 37, he is the youngest current manager or coach among the four major pro sports leagues.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Manager Buck Showalter expects OF David Lough (left hamstring strain) to return Saturday. ... INF Jimmy Paredes (lower back strain) is on target to come off the disabled list April 16. ... C Matt Wieters (right elbow ligament replacement surgery) is taking part in a light throwing program.
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (left shoulder tendinitis) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment Thursday with Class A Charlotte. He likely will need at least four minor league starts before returning. ...RHP Alex Colome (pneumonia) will throw batting practice on Thursday. ... Minor league pitching prospect Burch Smith, obtained in the offseason trade that sent 2013 AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers to San Diego, will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Orioles: 1B Chris Davis will come off the restricted list Tuesday after completing a 25-game suspension for using amphetamines without a prescription.
Rays: RHP Nathan Karns, part of an opening-day roster for the first time, will make his sixth major league start on Tuesday. He is filling one of three openings in Tampa Bay's rotation created by injuries.
ZIMMER HONORED
The Rays retired the No. 66 jersey worn last season by the late Don Zimmer, who was a senior adviser with the team when he died last June 4. The former Brooklyn Dodgers infielder and manager for several teams, including the Cubs and Red Sox, was in uniform in some capacity for 55 major league opening days. No. 66 is the third number to be retired by the Rays. Wade Boggs' No. 12 was retired in 2000, and Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was retired by all teams in 1997.
WELCOME BACK
To mark the 20th anniversary of receiving a major league expansion franchise, the Rays invited Vincent J. Namoli, who headed Tampa Bay's first ownership group, to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Namoli was not popular among fans during his run as managing general partner from 1995 to 2005, however the sellout crowd of 31,042 gave him a standing ovation Monday.
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