Davis out of lineup due to illness (plus other notes, O's down 2-1)

SEATTLE - First baseman Chris Davis has been scratched from the Orioles' lineup due to an illness.

Chance Sisco will serve as the designated hitter, with Trey Mancini moving to first base.

Davis is batting .316 (12-for-38) in his last 10 games to raise his average to .177, but he felt sick on the team charter Thursday.

Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Davis would play if pressed to do so, but there's no reason to keep him in the lineup.

"It's my decision," Showalter said during batting practice. "Chris is under the weather. There's a bug going around. He was in the lineup and willing to try to play. Just don't like how he's feeling. Plus, it will give me a chance to give Sisco some at-bats.

"It's not worth it. It's my call. He wants to play, but he's dragging. Those three games in Kansas City were pretty hot, but for everybody. But it's more about he's just not feeling well and I'm going to seize that opportunity to give a young player some at-bats."

Sisco and pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis were recalled this morning. The club seemed to be leaning toward shutting down Yacabonis at 95 1/3 innings, but he's back in the majors and might make another start.

"It depends on how you look at a start," Showalter said. "If you're looking at a start that he's maybe going to pitch six or seven innings, which I'd love to think, that's different. But you could start with the idea that you're not going to pitch but a couple innings, maybe three.

"He just got here. We're going to get our arms around where they are. We've already got a chart keeping up with everything. Everybody's on the same page with them. I think Dan (Duquette) has got the possibility of bringing up a couple more guys. They (Norfolk) finished their season today and we're going to take each case as it comes. Also, where some of the people that have been here all year are concerned. We want to make sure they finish healthy and strong.

"He'll get a chance to pitch some with some caution about knowing where he is. It's not purely an inning thing. Some things, it's what your eyes are telling you and also what you're being told by people who have been around them all year. But it's also a good experience for young guys to be around this situation as far as the big leagues and stuff."

Yacabonis is in a unique situation because he's in a rotation for the first time in his career.

"He made some solid strides as a starter," Showalter said. "If you had told me before the year when we decided to do that that he would have responded to it like he did, we would have loved that. And he had a lot more ups than downs. It's a positive thing for him.

"One of the things that was intriguing about him, he's a strong guy that's got a real good physical ... should be a durable guy. But it's always a work in progress. But he'll get a chance to pitch here, just like one or two of the guys who may be coming up in the next few days."

Yacabonis has an 8.38 ERA and 1.759 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings with the Orioles, with four starts among six appearances. He was 3-5 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.224 WHIP in 21 starts with the Tides.

"I feel good," he said. "I feel like I definitely still have something left. My last outing was a 10 a.m. game in Gwinnett, and even at 10 I still felt pretty good, so I still have some innings left."

Yacabonis also was recalled last September, but he didn't make any assumptions about a return.

"I've kind of just been going based off the calls all year," he said. "Just working on always being ready for whenever they need me. I figured last year they called me up in September, so I figured it might happen again this year, so I'd be ready for it.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity and thankful for the opportunity."

As for whether he'll make another start, Yacabonis said, "I have no clue. We'll see. I'm ready to pitch, so just need the ball."

Having a third catcher on the roster allowed Showalter to use Sisco as the designated hitter tonight in his new lineup.

"I think this will be a good experience for him up here," Showalter said. "We'll pick our spots. Austin (Wynns) has presented himself well, too, but they'll all be in the mix. Tonight, I saw a spot and I thought it would be a good idea for him to get the at-bats."

Sisco's last at-bat with the Orioles came on July 12 versus the Phillies.

"It's awesome," he said. "Obviously, this is where I want to be. I'm just excited to be back. I'm working hard and just trying to get some things right. Like you said, I'm just happy to be back right now."

The Orioles are expected to bring up another pitcher before Tuesday's game. Showalter indicated that Double-A Bowie left-hander Keegan Akin, named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Year, will be shut down.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Jonathan Villar 2B
Trey Mancini 1B
Adam Jones RF
Tim Beckham SS
Renato Núñez 3B
Chance Sisco DH
Joey Rickard LF
Caleb Joseph C

Josh Rogers LHP

Update: Jonathan Villar led off the fourth inning with a home run off the right field foul pole to break a scoreless tie. Josh Rogers has retired nine of 10 batters.

Update II: Rogers issued back-to-back walks with one out in the bottom of the fourth and Ryon Healy's RBI single tied the game 1-1. Healy was out going for the double.

Update III: Cameron Maybin led off the fifth with a triple and scored the tie-breaking run with one out on Dee Gordon's fly ball.