Guthrie threw a 53-pitch side session Wednesday afternoon, and he said it had nothing to do with proving to himself that he was ready to pitch again.

"I don't think it was about that," Guthrie said. "It was about building a pitch count. ... This is about getting stretched out."

Manager Dave Trembley said Guthrie, who will throw another side session Friday, would be on an undetermined innings and pitch limit. Whether or not Guthrie is able to give the Orioles a quality start didn't matter to Trembley.

Trembley was impressed by Guthrie's leadership and willingness to work hard to return for one final start on a club that's in its 11th straight losing season.

"I want winners, and Guthrie's a winner for me," Trembley said. "To me, leadership is what you do, not what you say."

RAYS 11, ORIOLES 6: The Orioles wasted a five-run first inning and a six-run lead, as Tampa Bay limited Baltimore's bats to just four hits after the second inning. The Rays scored five runs in the fourth and four more in the eighth, but couldn't clinch the division as Boston's win kept Tampa Bay's magic number at one.