Niemann aims to be more efficient

Unable to keep his pitches down in the strike zone consistently in his past two starts, RHP Jeff Niemann tweaked his mechanics during his side work the past few days.

He'll make his seventh start of the season tonight at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the site of his season debut April 11.

Niemann allowed five runs in the first inning of that game, but he settled down and lasted into the sixth inning of a 6-0 loss.

Niemann is 0-2 with a 9.95 ERA in his past two starts.

He had a shutout going last Thursday against the Yankees, but Manager Joe Maddon pulled him after he allowed two base runners without getting an out in the fourth.

Nine of the 17 batters Niemann faced against the Yankees reached base, and his two base runners in the fourth scored in a game the Rays eventually won.

In his side work with pitching coach Jim Hickey, the 6-foot-9 Niemann worked on "mechanical stuff with the windup, just trying to quiet things down, have less moving parts and be more efficient overall."

Niemann has had a few good outings, including road victories against Seattle and Minnesota. He's 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA.

Riggans needs more time off

The news wasn't great on backup C Shawn Riggans (right shoulder tendinitis) after his examination by James Andrews on Monday, but it could have been worse.

Riggans, who was in the midst of a minor-league rehab stint last week when he had a setback, was told to take about three weeks off.

Andrews found inflammation but nothing requiring surgery, a team spokesman said.

Maddon honored by state House

Manager Joe Maddon wore a classy dark suit on his trip to the Pennsylvania state capitol Tuesday. He added a Rays cap for his appearance before the state House of Representatives.

A native of Hazleton, Pa., the manager was honored with a resolution recognizing his achievements in the Rays' World Series season last year. His mother and sister attended.

"It was very impressive, really well done, and you feel really honored under those circumstances," Maddon said.

Before the presentation to Maddon, a resolution was read honoring Harry Kalas, the longtime Phillies' play-by-play voice who died April 13. Kalas was the father of Rays broadcaster Todd Kalas.

"They all put on their Phillies caps, and obviously there's some irony in that," Maddon said. "They were concerned I would feel bad, but of course I didn't. I thought it was great I was being considered on the same day as Mr. Kalas."

Baltimore's own

Although OF Gabe Gross grew up in Alabama and played football for Auburn, he was born at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

"My dad was playing for the Colts when they were here in '79," Gross said. "I was born here in October, and when the season was over, we moved back to Alabama. That was his last year in the NFL."

Lee Gross was a 237-pound center/guard and long snapper in the NFL. He played three seasons with the Saints and one with the Colts before that franchise moved to Indianapolis.

Gabe Gross says he is something of a Colts fan because of the connection.