Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Jake Arrieta says that he has “zero complications” and feels “100 percent” in his bid to be ready to throw with the big league club when spring training starts.

Arrieta was leading the Orioles in wins last season with 10 when he was lost for the year due to an arm injury. He underwent successful surgery on August 12 to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. Recently he said he’s been throwing on flat ground and said he feels good.

“I started my rehab pretty shortly after surgery,” Arrieta said. “I focused on mobility. That was really the first thing, try to get as much extension back as possible without pushing it too much. There’s a window in there where, if you go too far, you might run into a little complication, but I paired up with a physical therapist who’s a hand and elbow expert for 20-plus years, so I was very confident going in.”

The fact that Arrieta is throwing a baseball without discomfort is good news for the Orioles, whose starting rotation is still a bit uncertain after the staff ranked dead least in team ERA last year.

Despite going 9-17 with a 4.33 ERA Jeremy Guthrie is penciled in as the de-facto number one starter. There have been off-season trade rumors involving him but they appear to have ended and Guthrie will be headed back to the top of the rotation again this year for Baltimore.

Promising left-hander Zach Britton won 11 games in his rookie campaign, and is eager to show that he is also continuing his character and professional development on the mound after getting married in the off-season.

“I don’t think anybody, other than a guy like Guthrie—who has obviously established himself—everyone else needs to come in there knowing that they have to earn a spot,” said Britton. “We didn’t perform well enough to earn a spot.”

Britton is likely to have one, though, as the Scott Boras client has the tools for a bright future.

After that things get dicey for the Orioles. That is why they recently obtained 30-year-old Japanese left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada from the Softbank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League.

Wada was signed to a two-year $8 million dollar contract to fill one of the spots on the Orioles paper-thin rotation. Wada went 16-5 record with a 1.51 ERA for Softbank in 2011 and walked just 40 batters in 184 2/3 innings.

But Wada is not a sure thing as his fastball tops out in the high 80s and he is a control pitcher who relies on contact and defense to win. That makes Arrieta all the more important to manager Buck Showalter and the Orioles.

“I’m healed up and ready to go,” Arrieta said.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jeremy Guthrie struggled with his command, and that was all Jeremy Hellickson needed to record another victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Guthrie pitched five shaky innings in his major league-leading 17th loss and Hellickson threw a four-hitter in the Tampa Bay Rays’ 8-1 victory Sunday.

Hellickson (12-10) has two complete games this season, both against the Orioles. The rookie right-hander also tossed a four-hitter in a 3-0 win against Baltimore on May 13 during which Guthrie also went the distance.

Guthrie (6-17) gave up seven runs — three earned — and seven hits Sunday. The right-hander struck out five and walked four.

“I didn’t have a good feel for the strike zone,” Guthrie said. “I wasn’t aggressive in the strike zone.”

Tampa Bay scored four times with two out in the third to take a 6-0 lead. Evan Longoria came home when third baseman Mark Reynolds misplayed Brandon Guyer’s grounder, and Reid Brignac followed with a three-run double.

Guthrie walked three during the third and after the inning ended appeared ready to throw a Gatorade bucket all around dugout.

“Just a lot of frustration,” Guthrie said. “I grabbed it and wanted to do a lot more things with it, but kind of dragged it and set it down. Figured I didn’t deserve a drink of Gatorade that inning.”

Guthrie became the first pitcher since Kip Wells (2005 and 2007) to lose at least 17 games twice during his career. The right-hander went 10-17 in 2009.

Adam Jones homered for the Orioles, who have lost six of eight.

Hellickson improved to 4-1 in five starts — six appearances overall — against Baltimore, including wins in all three outings at home where he has surrendered two earned runs in 25 combined innings.

“You know exactly what he’s going to do and try to do,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s got a great presentation on his change up and breaking ball. Throws everything out of the same slot. He’s grasped pitching instead of throwing at a young age. He’s got a lot of ability.”

Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the second for Tampa Bay. Rodriguez’s two-out drive to left on a 1-2 pitch was his seventh homer of the season.

The Rays scored all of their runs in Saturday’s 6-3 win over Baltimore in two-out situations.

Matt Joyce drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, including a two-out solo homer in the sixth.

Jones led off the fifth with his 23rd homer. He had just three hits in his previous 37 at-bats.

Jones also doubled in the seventh, and Robert Andino and J.J. Hardy had the other hits for Baltimore. Andino’s third-inning infield hit was originally ruled an error on shortstop Brignac.

Tampa Bay designated hitter Johnny Damon tied Doc Cramer for 62nd place on the career hits list at 2,705 with a fourth-inning single.

NOTES: Jones tied his career high with 25 doubles this season. … Reynolds made two errors and has 26 on the year. … Tampa Bay CF B.J. Upton rested one day after getting five RBIs. “That was planned before (Saturday’s game),” manager Joe Maddon said. … Orioles RF Nick Markakis made his second career start at first base and had a couple nice fielding plays. … Rays INF Ben Zobrist (neck stiffness) could return to the starting lineup Monday. … Baltimore RHP Jason Berken (strained right forearm) may pitch in a simulated game Thursday. … Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz (1-7) and New York RHP Freddy Garcia (11-7) are Monday’s scheduled starters at Yankee Stadium.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Jeremy Hellickson(notes) needed just 97 pitches to
finish off his latest strong outing.

Hellickson threw a four-hitter, Reid Brignac(notes) had three RBIs and the Tampa
Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 on Sunday.

“He had a sneaky fastball that set everything else up,” Rays manager Joe
Maddon said. “When he wanted to throw the ball somewhere, it was going there.”

Hellickson (12-10) has two complete games this season, both against the
Orioles. The rookie right-hander also tossed a four-hitter in a 3-0 win against
Baltimore on May 13.

“I felt good in command of all my pitches,” Hellickson said. “Even the
curveball felt good. I was throwing that for a strike once in a while, and I was
keeping the ball down.”

Tampa Bay scored four times with two out in the third to take a 6-0 lead.
Evan Longoria(notes) came home when third baseman Mark Reynolds(notes) misplayed Brandon
Guyer’s(notes) grounder, and Brignac followed with a three-run double.

“I haven’t had too many opportunities of late to drive in some runs,”
Brignac said. “The way Jeremy was throwing, all we needed was a few runs to get
through the game.”

Brignac had driven in two runs in previous 41 home games this year.

Adam Jones(notes) homered for the Orioles. Jeremy Guthrie(notes) gave up seven runs—
three earned—and seven hits over five innings en route to his major
league-leading 17th loss.

Guthrie (6-17) walked three batters to help set up the Rays’ big third.
After the inning ended, he appeared ready to throw a Gatorade bucket all around
the dugout.

“Just a lot of frustration,” he said. “I grabbed it and wanted to do a
lot more things with it, but kind of dragged it and set it down. I figured I
didn’t deserve a drink of Gatorade that inning.”

Guthrie is the first pitcher since Kip Wells(notes) (2005 and 2007) to lose at
least 17 games twice during his career. The right-hander went 10-17 in 2009.

Hellickson improved to 4-1 in five starts—six appearances overall—
against Baltimore, including wins in all three outings at home where he has
surrendered two earned runs in 25 combined innings.

“It’s kind of frustrating … You know exactly what he’s going to do and
try to do,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s got a great
presentation on the changeup and breaking ball. Throws everything out of the
same slot. He’s grasped pitching instead of throwing at a young age.”

Sean Rodriguez(notes) hit a two-run homer in the second for Tampa Bay. Rodriguez’s
two-out drive to left on a 1-2 pitch was his seventh homer of the season.

The Rays scored all of their runs in Saturday’s 6-3 win over Baltimore in
two-out situations.

Matt Joyce(notes) drove in two runs for Tampa Bay, including a two-out solo homer
in the sixth.

Jones led off the fifth with his 23rd homer. He had just three hits in his
previous 37 at-bats.

Jones also doubled in the seventh, and Robert Andino(notes) and J.J. Hardy(notes) had the
other hits for Baltimore. Andino’s third-inning infield hit was originally ruled
an error on shortstop Brignac.

Tampa Bay designated hitter Johnny Damon(notes) tied Doc Cramer for 62nd place on
the career hits list at 2,705 with a fourth-inning single.

NOTES: Tampa Bay CF B.J. Upton(notes) rested one day after getting five RBIs.
“That was planned before (Saturday’s game),” Maddon said. … Orioles RF Nick
Markakis(notes) made his second career start at first base and had a couple nice
fielding plays. … Rays INF Ben Zobrist(notes) (neck stiffness) could return to the
starting lineup Monday. … Baltimore RHP Jason Berken(notes) (strained right forearm)
may pitch in a simulated game Thursday. … Rays RHP James Shields(notes) (13-10), who
tops the majors with 10 complete games this season, will pitch against Texas RHP
Scott Feldman(notes) (1-0) on Monday. … Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz(notes) (1-7) and New York
RHP Freddy Garcia(notes) (11-7) are Monday’s scheduled starters at Yankee Stadium.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—B.J. Upton(notes) finally found success again at
Tropicana Field.

Upton had five RBIs, Wade Davis(notes) pitched effectively into the seventh inning
and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Saturday night.

Upton hit a two-out, three-run double off Alfredo Simon(notes) (4-8) to make it 6-2
in the fifth. The Rays tied it at 2 during the first when Upton drove in two
runs on a double.

Both of Upton’s run-scoring hits came after Matt Joyce(notes) drew two-out walks.

“If you’re a competitor, you do (take it personally),” Upton said.
“Nobody likes the guy in front of him walked to get to yourself, so you want to
rise to the occasion. It just happened to work out.”

Upton had just 16 RBIs in his previous 63 home games this season. On the
road, he has knocked in 45 runs over 66 contests.

“This ballpark is a little tougher on hitters than on pitchers,” Upton
said. “But when you play here, you can expect that.”

Upton had been 1 for 23 with the bases loaded, dating back to the start of
the 2010 season, before his fifth-inning hit.

“He’s done it for us in the past and it’s in his future,” Tampa Bay
manager Joe Maddon said. “Don’t forget he’s still young (27 years old). He’s
got a lot to learn and when he does, he’s going to put up some really sick
numbers.”

Davis (9-8) allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. The
right-hander struck out five and walked four. Kyle Farnsworth(notes), the third Tampa
Bay reliever, pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

“Little bits of wildness, but overall he pitched well,” Maddon said of
Davis. “If he gets rid of the walks, he could really be dominant.”

Nick Markakis(notes) homered for the Orioles (55-82), who are now saddled with
their 14th straight losing record. Baltimore came up short in its bid to win six
straight road games for the first time since Aug. 29-Sept 4, 2004.

Simon gave up six runs and seven hits over five-plus innings. He is 1-4 with
a 5.80 ERA in his last six starts.

“The command of the fastball has got to be there to pitch at this level,”
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Tonight wasn’t one of those nights.”

Joyce had a third-inning RBI double to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead.

Markakis put the Orioles up 2-0 with a two-run shot in the first. He entered
with four hits in his previous 38 at-bats.

Baltimore got within 6-3 when Matt Wieters(notes) had a run-scoring single in the
sixth. Davis avoided further damage by getting an inning-ending double play from
Robert Andino(notes) with the bases loaded.

“We had some chances to really climb back in that thing,” Showalter said.

Wieters has driven in 15 runs over his last 13 games.

NOTES: Tampa Bay INF-OF Ben Zobrist(notes) was out of the starting lineup because
of neck stiffness and is day to day. … Orioles RHP Tommy Hunter(notes) (flulike
symptoms) remains on target to pitch Tuesday against the New York Yankees. …
Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz(notes) is scheduled to make his next start Monday in New
York after being skipped one time through the rotation. … Tampa Bay bullpen
coach Bobby Ramos continues to recover at home from a throat problem. …
Orioles INF Chris Davis(notes) (strained right shoulder) is set to play Sunday and
Monday at Double-A Bowie. … Baltimore RHP Jeremy Guthrie(notes) (6-16), who is 5-9
with a 4.09 ERA in 17 starts against Tampa Bay, will face Rays RHP Jeremy
Hellickson(notes) (11-10) in Sunday’s series finale.

Upton hit a two-out, three-run double off Alfredo Simon (4-8) to make it 6-2 in the fifth. The Rays tied it at 2 during the first when Upton drove in two runs on a double.

Both of Upton’s run-scoring hits came after Matt Joyce drew two-out walks.

“If you’re a competitor, you do (take it personally),” Upton said. “Nobody likes the guy in front of him walked to get to yourself, so you want to rise to the occasion. It just happened to work out.”

Upton had just 16 RBIs in his previous 63 home games this season. On the road, he has knocked in 45 runs over 66 contests.

“This ballpark is a little tougher on hitters than on pitchers,” Upton said. “But when you play here, you can expect that.”

Upton had been 1 for 23 with the bases loaded, dating back to the start of the 2010 season, before his fifth-inning hit.

“He’s done it for us in the past and it’s in his future,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “Don’t forget he’s still young (27 years old). He’s got a lot to learn and when he does, he’s going to put up some really sick numbers.”

Davis (9-8) allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked four. Kyle Farnsworth, the third Tampa Bay reliever, pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

“Little bits of wildness, but overall he pitched well,” Maddon said of Davis. “If he gets rid of the walks, he could really be dominant.”

Nick Markakis homered for the Orioles (55-82), who are now saddled with their 14th straight losing record. Baltimore came up short in its bid to win six straight road games for the first time since Aug. 29-Sept 4, 2004.

Simon gave up six runs and seven hits over five-plus innings. He is 1-4 with a 5.80 ERA in his last six starts.

“The command of the fastball has got to be there to pitch at this level,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Tonight wasn’t one of those nights.”

Joyce had a third-inning RBI double to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead.

Markakis put the Orioles up 2-0 with a two-run shot in the first. He entered with four hits in his previous 38 at-bats.

Baltimore got within 6-3 when Matt Wieters had a run-scoring single in the sixth. Davis avoided further damage by getting an inning-ending double play from Robert Andino with the bases loaded.

“We had some chances to really climb back in that thing,” Showalter said.

Wieters has driven in 15 runs over his last 13 games.

NOTES: Tampa Bay INF-OF Ben Zobrist was out of the starting lineup because of neck stiffness and is day to day. … Orioles RHP Tommy Hunter (flulike symptoms) remains on target to pitch Tuesday against the New York Yankees. … Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz is scheduled to make his next start Monday in New York after being skipped one time through the rotation. … Tampa Bay bullpen coach Bobby Ramos continues to recover at home from a throat problem. … Orioles INF Chris Davis (strained right shoulder) is set to play Sunday and Monday at Double-A Bowie. … Baltimore RHP Jeremy Guthrie (6-16), who is 5-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 17 starts against Tampa Bay, will face Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (11-10) in Sunday’s series finale.

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