Berken extended to 84 pitches; Reynolds' slam gives O's 5-3 lead

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

June 04, 2011, 4:52pm

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The Orioles wanted to stretch out Jason Berken at Triple-A Norfolk to make him a more effective long reliever and give them the option of starting him if the need arises later this summer. Berken threw 84 pitches over 5 2/3 innings tonight, so the plan with Berken most definitely has not changed. Berken allowed two runs and five hits, with one walk and five strikeouts, and he left with Norfolk trailing Rochester, 2-1. The 5 2/3 innings matches Berken's total in his first two starts with the Tides. In his three outings, Berken has allowed five runs and 13 hits, with five walks and 10 strikeouts, in 11 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Derrek Lee is 2-for-3 tonight in his first game since May 16. Instant update: Mark Reynolds has taken over the team lead in home runs with eight, and he did it in grand fashion. Reynolds hit his first career grand slam, the ball traveling an estimated 394 feet, to give the Orioles a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning. His 28 RBIs move him past Matt Wieters for second on the team behind Adam Jones (31).