Price makes pitches count

If there is one thing LHP David Price has done during his first two starts this season that he didn't do last season, it is consistently pounding the strike zone with his fastball.

Price improved to 2-0 with seven innings of four-hit ball Wednesday afternoon against the Orioles. The lone blemish was the curve ball he hung to Miguel Tejada to start the fourth inning. Price answered Tejada's home run by retiring the next seven batters.

"Overall, compared to the last couple of years, fastball command by far is what really strikes me," Manager Joe Maddon said.

Price also has developed more confidence in his curve ball, something he developed last season while pitching at the major-league level.

Pena and the shift

1B Carlos Pena leads the Rays with five infield hits, which is more than the rest of the team has combined.

He has done it by beating the shift with a bunt up the third-base line, a check-swing single in the same direction and a couple of slow-rollers to second base.

More playing time coming for Navi

C Dioner Navarro will receive more playing time with C Kelly Shoppach (sprained right knee) on the disabled list. Maddon expects Navarro to start three of the four games this weekend in Boston.

"He's embracing this moment," Maddon said. "He's prepared himself for it. He worked very hard this camp, so I feel very good about it. He's catching very well. He's blocking really well. Better at-bats. He's getting chance to hit on the right side a little bit, which he's very good at."

Closer Soriano getting right

Tuesday's outing by RHP Rafael Soriano was his 10th since the start of spring training. It also was the best Soriano has looked, Maddon said.

"He's starting to get into a better velocity groove," Maddon said. "It looks like the ball is coming out of his hand better."

Odds and ends

This is only the third time the Rays have been above .500 after nine games. The 1998 and 2004 teams were both 5-4. ... 2B/RF Ben Zobrist was held hitless for the first time this season. Add an eight-game hitting streak at the end of 2009, and Zobrist saw a 16-game hitting streak end. ... SS Jason Bartlett had Wednesday off. ... 3B Evan Longoria drove in his ninth run of the season Wednesday. All nine have come against the Orioles. ... C John Jaso, recalled Tuesday to replace Shoppach, made it to Camden Yards by the eighth inning Tuesday night. ... Both Jaso and Orioles C Craig Tatum recorded unassisted putouts Wednesday. Tatum picked up the ball LF Carl Crawford pounded into the dirt in front of the plate and tagged Crawford out, and Jaso picked up a squibber by 1B Garrett Atkins and tagged him on the foot as he tried to run to first. ... The forecast in Boston calls for rain Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Roger Mooney