AL: BALTIMORE (59-76) at TAMPA BAY (56-81) <h3>Devil Rays, Orioles square off in three-game series</h3> <div class="pre">Baltimore (59-76) at Tampa Bay (56-81) 7:10 pm EDT</div> ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - The bottom two teams in theAmerican League East meet Monday as the Baltimore Orioles visitthe Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the opener of a three-game series. Baltimore, which has lost 11 of its last 12 games, is four gamesin front of last-place Tampa Bay. During their recent slide, the Orioles suffered theembarrassment of being no-hit Saturday night by Boston rookieClay Buchholz. Despite a miserable overall record, the Devil Rays have playedwell of late, winning nine of their last 11 games - includingtwo wins against the New York Yankees during a three-game seriesthis past weekend. James Shields (10-8, 4.10 ERA) takes the mound for the DevilRays. The righthander was not involved in the decision in hislast start against the Orioles on Wednesday after allowing fourruns and 10 hits in eight innings. Kurt Birkins (1-1, 8.00) will make his first career start when hetakes the mound for the Orioles in place of the injured ErikBedard.
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY -- LINEUPS BALTIMORE TAMPA BAY AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Brian Roberts 2B .302 10 49 Akinori Iwamura 3B .282 6 24 Corey Patterson CF .269 7 42 Carl Crawford LF .314 10 74 Nick Markakis RF .292 16 89 Carlos Pena 1B .274 34 96 Miguel Tejada SS .304 17 69 B.J. Upton CF .313 22 70 Kevin Millar 1B .260 14 57 Delmon Young RF .296 10 71 Aubrey Huff DH .271 14 63 Brendan Harris 2B .286 8 53 Melvin Mora 3B .262 13 48 Greg Norton DH .219 3 17 Ramon Hernandez C .241 7 49 Josh Wilson SS .268 2 21 Tike Redman LF .323 0 4 Dioner Navarro C .215 7 35 Kurt Birkins LHP (1-1, 8.00) James Shields RHP (10-8, 4.10)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY WARMUPS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS (1-1, 8.00) TAM - JAMES SHIELDS (10-8, 4.10) UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN GORMAN 1B - PAUL NAUERT 2B - CHAD FAIRCHILD 3B - ROB DRAKE WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY STARTING BATS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS AND RAMON HERNANDEZ TAM - JAMES SHIELDS AND DIONER NAVARRO DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.302, 10 HR, 49 RBI) C PATTERSON (.269, 7 HR, 42 RBI) N MARKAKIS (.292, 16 HR, 89 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS TAM - JAMES SHIELDS DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.282, 6 HR, 24 RBI) C CRAWFORD (.314, 10 HR, 74 RBI) C PENA (.274, 34 HR, 96 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .301 C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 T Redman lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314 C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era K Birkins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.00 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Shields 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.08 Pitches-strikes: J Shields 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J Shields 2-0. Batters faced: J Shields 3. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY CONFIRMED STARTERS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS TAM - JAMES SHIELDS</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS TAM - JAMES SHIELDS DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M TEJADA (.304, 17 HR, 69 RBI) K MILLAR (.260, 14 HR, 57 RBI) A HUFF (.271, 14 HR, 63 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .301 C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 K Millar 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 A Huff dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 T Redman lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .313 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .273 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Upton 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - A Iwamura (11, 2nd base off K Birkins/R Hernandez). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era K Birkins 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 7.58 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Shields 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.08 Pitches-strikes: K Birkins 16-11; J Shields 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: K Birkins 1-1; J Shields 2-0. Batters faced: K Birkins 4; J Shields 3. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS TAM - JAMES SHIELDS DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D YOUNG (.296, 10 HR, 71 RBI) B HARRIS (.286, 8 HR, 53 RBI) G NORTON (.219, 3 HR, 17 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .301 C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303 K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 A Huff dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 T Redman lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .313 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .273 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Upton 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - A Iwamura (11, 2nd base off K Birkins/R Hernandez). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 00 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era K Birkins 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 7.58 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Shields 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.06 Pitches-strikes: K Birkins 16-11; J Shields 23-15. Ground balls-fly balls: K Birkins 1-1; J Shields 2-2. Batters faced: K Birkins 4; J Shields 6. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 0 0 0 0 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS TAM - JAMES SHIELDS DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M MORA (.262, 13 HR, 48 RBI) R HERNANDEZ (.241, 7 HR, 49 RBI) T REDMAN (.323, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .301 C Patterson cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303 K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 A Huff dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 T Redman lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323 Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .313 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .273 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312 D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Upton 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - A Iwamura (11, 2nd base off K Birkins/R Hernandez). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 00 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era K Birkins 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 7.20 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Shields 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.06 Pitches-strikes: K Birkins 27-18; J Shields 23-15. Ground balls-fly balls: K Birkins 2-2; J Shields 2-2. Batters faced: K Birkins 7; J Shields 6. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY COREY PATTERSON SCORED MELVIN MORA AND TIKE REDMAN. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C PATTERSON ON FIRST, B ROBERTS ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 2 TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: N MARKAKIS (.292, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE ERROR BY DIONER NAVARRO ALLOWED BRIAN ROBERTS TO SCORE. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C PATTERSON ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3 TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: N MARKAKIS (.292, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY MIGUEL TEJADA SCORED COREY PATTERSON. SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, N MARKAKIS ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4 TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: K MILLAR (.260, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 0 0 4 4 4 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 2 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - KURT BIRKINS TAM - JAMES SHIELDS DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J WILSON (.268, 2 HR, 21 RBI) D NAVARRO (.215, 7 HR, 35 RBI) A IWAMURA (.284, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (4) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 .301 C Patterson cf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .271 N Markakis rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .292 M Tejada ss 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 .303 K Millar 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .262 A Huff dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .270 M Mora 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .264 R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .241 T Redman lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .344 Totals 13 4 4 3 1 3 4 BATTING: 2B - K Millar (21, J Shields). SF - M Tejada. RBI - C Patterson 2 (44), M Tejada (70). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Huff 2. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - B Roberts (40, 3rd base off J Shields/D Navarro), C Patterson (37, 2nd base off J Shields/D Navarro). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .313 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .273 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312 D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Upton 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - A Iwamura (11, 2nd base off K Birkins/R Hernandez). FIELDING: E - J Wilson (15, ground ball); D Navarro (8, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 004 -- 4 TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era K Birkins 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 7.20 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Shields 3 4 4 4 1 3 0 4.22 Pitches-strikes: K Birkins 27-18; J Shields 57-37. Ground balls-fly balls: K Birkins 2-2; J Shields 3-3. Batters faced: K Birkins 7; J Shields 15. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Rob Drake. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY AKINORI IWAMURA SCORED JOSH WILSON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A IWAMURA ON FIRST, D NAVARRO ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4 TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.313, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY CARL CRAWFORD SCORED JOSH WILSON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A IWAMURA ON SECOND, D NAVARRO ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4 TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C PENA (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>
