Orioles 3, Rays 1
Brian Roberts hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and Chris Tillman led a strong pitching effort with six no-hit innings as the visiting Baltimore Orioles topped the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1, on Saturday.
Derrek Lee added two hits for the Orioles, who will go for the sweep of the season-opening series on Sunday.
Tillman entered with a 5.61 ERA in 23 career major league starts but looked a lot more like the pitcher who had dominated on his way through the minors, striking out five Rays while walking three. The 23-year-old was pulled after throwing 101 pitches.
Jeremy Accardo (1-0) came on and allowed a two-out single in the seventh to B.J. Upton, ending the no-hit bid.
James Shields (0-1) nearly matched Tillman, striking out seven through seven scoreless frames before tiring in the eighth. Shields was removed after surrendering a hit and a walk, and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon brought in rookie Jake McGee to face Roberts.
The young lefthander left a fastball over the plate and Roberts deposited it into the stands in left for the decisive blast.
The Rays got a run back in the eighth on an RBI single by Manny Ramirez and put two runners on in the ninth, but right fielder Nick Markakis made a leaping catch against the wall on a ball hit by Ben Zobrist for the final out, giving Kevin Gregg a shaky save.