Tampa's RHP Seth McClung notched his fifth straight start of allowing two or fewer runs, though he is only 1-1 in that stretch. The key has been keeping the ball down. "I'm not concerned with my wins and losses," McClung said. "All I can do is put my team in a position to win. Whatever happens after I leave the ballgame is out of my control."

CF Joey Gathright has had trouble getting breaks on balls. Wednesday, he made a bad play trying to set up for Jermaine Dye's sacrifice fly and was unable to prevent Scott Podsednik from scoring the tying run.

OF Rocco Baldelli played right field instead of his customary center field in an extended spring training game on Wednesday and the Rays will at least consider using him in right when he gets back to the big leagues if it cuts down on his running. Baldelli has been out since late March with a sore left hamstring.

Boston appears favorite to win the division according Sportsbook odds along with the Yankees. And the DH super-star David Ortiz told the Boston Globe that he endured the flu for about 10 days, but is just now starting to feel better. Ortiz backed the claim by launching his third homer in 13 May games on Wednesday, after bashing 10 round-trippers in 26 contests in April.

2B Mark Loretta was one of the few sources of offense for the Red Sox; collecting two hits and a double in four at-bats. Loretta now has nine multi-hit games in his last 11 games, propelling his average from .207 to .294.

OF Trot Nixon started his second straight game against a southpaw starter going 0-for-3 against Orioles LHP Erik Bedard. In the season, Nixon is batting .250 against left-handed pitchers, against whom he usually plays sparingly.

OF Wily Mo Pena collected a ninth-inning infield single. Pena now has a team-leading four infield hits this year.