Guthrie throws 6 scoreless, Orioles improve to 9-2 under Showalter in win over the Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Jeremy Guthrie scattered two hits over six innings, Adam Jones hit a two-run triple and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 Friday night.

Guthrie (7-11) struck out three and walked four in his third consecutive win. It was also his first victory (1-4) in seven career starts at Tropicana Field.

The Orioles took a 3-0 lead in the first when Jones drove in two with a triple and then scored on a double by Felix Pie. Luke Scott hit his 22nd homer this season, helping Baltimore improve to 9-2 under new manager Buck Showalter.

Koji Uehara gave up one hit in two scoreless innings before Michael Gonzalez pitched the ninth to complete a three-hitter.

James Shields (10-11) allowed four runs and 10 hits over five-plus innings for the Rays, who have lost seven of nine. The right-hander was coming off a 17-11 loss last Saturday to Toronto in which he gave up six homers in four innings.

Josh Bell made it 4-0 with a fourth-inning RBI single. Scott then extended the Orioles' advantage to 5-0 on a homer off Lance Cormier in the seventh. Scott has 10 homers and 23 RBIs over his last 24 games.

Guthrie got defensive help during the first when right fielder Nick Markakis ran into the wall while making a catch on Evan Longoria's long foul with two on and one out. The next batter, Matt Joyce, ended the inning with an infield pop fly.

The Rays failed to convert on seven opportunities with runners in scoring position and are 4 for 42 over the past four games.

NOTES: As part of a promotion, the Rays wore 1970s era uniforms of the minor league Tampa Bay Tarpons, while Baltimore featured the all orange threads the team used twice in 1971. Showalter was not a big fan of the Orioles' uniform. "Will break out the jacket," he said before the game. ... Rays 1B Carlos Pena (sore right foot) could return Monday. ... The Orioles have been outscored 87-41 in the first this season. ... Tampa Bay RHPs Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis, both out with a strained right shoulder, remain on target to rejoin the rotation within the next two weeks.