David Lough on his return to the Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles closer Zach Britton said he expects to be available for today's game against the Red Sox.

Britton hadn't gone on the field, but he seemed to be recovered from the mild strain in his left lat muscle.

Britton hasn't pitched since Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Outfielder David Lough figures to be listed among the reserves again today - the Orioles haven't posted their lineup - with the Red Sox starting left-hander Craig Breslow.

Lough had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday as the Orioles sought to improve their depth in center field due to Adam Jones' sore back and Gerardo Parra's sore right shoulder.

Jones played catch and ran in the outfield today.

"I wasn't anticipating it," said Lough, who didn't make the taxi squad roster in Sarasota. "I was home for a little over a week and it was a couple days ago, early in the morning, I got the phone call. I got ready as fast as I could just to get here for the game.

"I think everybody, once you go home and you don't really hear anything, you think the season has come to an end. But it seemed like some guys were banged up here and they felt like they should bring me back and try to help the team win games and make that playoff push."

The Orioles didn't need to worry about Lough being out of shape.

"I go home and I start working out and staying in shape and always stay ready," he said. "I was in my basement taking dry cuts and stuff in my gym. I always stay ready, I always stay locked in, so when I got the call I'm ready to go.

"They know what type of work ethic that I put in. I think it made it a little bit easier, I'd say. I don't know. That's their decision."

Lough said he was bothered by a foot injury at Norfolk. He also was hit on the hand during the International League playoffs.

"I was hurting pretty bad on my foot," he said. "When I went home for a couple days, it went away for the most part. I think playing on it consistently wasn't make it any better, so a couple days' rest and I was fine."

The last month hasn't been fun for Lough, who was designated for assignment and outrighted to Norfolk. He couldn't refuse the assignment and become a free agent.

"Not fun, not fun at all," said Lough, who batted .202/.243/.318 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 77 games with the Orioles. "When you get sent down and go to Triple-A, it's more of getting over it mentally than it is physically. Just getting through that point, that transition, because the big leagues is so much different than being in Triple-A.

"There's a lot of things you have to get through, but I persevered through it and I put together what I could down there and I feel like I'm more than capable of playing up here at the major league level."

Lough is back on the 40-man roster, but he's not eligible for free agency this winter. He needs to make some sort of an impression and stay in the Orioles' plans.

"I'd like to," he said. "I like this organization. I like everything about it, but whenever that comes around I'll focus on that. I'm just here to play baseball and help this team win and make that wild card playoff spot.

"I'm just glad to be on the diamond, to be honest with you. I didn't want to stop playing. I love baseball and I'll play it as long as I can for the full season. When I got that phone call, I was happy and excited to be back in the clubhouse with all the guys. It's a good feeling."

The Orioles remain 3 1/2 games behind the Astros for the second wild card, but three teams are ahead of them. Lough said he doesn't sense a change in clubhouse mood.

"Everybody's upbeat and up-tempo, wanting to make that push," he said. "You've got Adam Jones leading the clubhouse like he always does. We feed off those guys, and I don't think much has changed in the clubhouse, to be honest with you."