Orioles, Rays play to 7-7, 10-inning tie

SARASOTA, Fla. — Right-hander Jason Hammel pitched three innings and allowed just one hit in the Orioles' 10-inning, 7-7 Grapefruit League tie with the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium.

Hammels, who was making his second exhibition appearance, gave up a leadoff home run to Rays outfielder Matt Joyce in the second inning, but allowed only one other batter to reach base. In his Orioles spring debut last week, he pitched two scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves.

The Orioles did most of their damage at the plate in the second inning, jumping on Rays ace David Price for four runs. Price walked J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds with one out and gave up an RBI single to newly arrived catcher Ronnie Paulino before giving up a three-run homer to outfield prospect Jai Miller.

Right-hander Brad Bergesen followed Hammel to the mound and pitched three scoreless innings in his third spring appearance – all against the Rays. He has pitched seven innings and given up two runs on five hits and three walks.

The Orioles, however, allowed the Rays to take the lead before Ryan Flaherty tied it up with a two-run homer in the ninth inning.

Right-hander Steve Johnson (St. Paul's) pitched a scoreless 10th, and the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning. They couldn't score however, and the game ended in a tie, the Orioles' and Rays' second of the Grapefruit League season.