Game update and a few more notes (O's down 3-2)

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen got through the top of the first inning tonight without allowing a run despite singles by Jonny Gomes and David Ortiz. Dustin Pedroia lined to right field, a significant out considering that he's 11-for-20 lifetime against Chen. Mike Napoli, who was 3-for-10 with two home runs, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Nick Markakis singled leading off the bottom of the first, just as he did last night. Adam Jones walked with two outs, but Nelson Cruz grounded into a force. Jones drew only 25 walks last season. He's got one in 2014. Jones, Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy received their Silver Slugger Awards before tonight's game. Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters today that Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar, on the disabled list with left patellar tendinitis, has shown "no marked improvement." Third baseman Manny Machado "continues to improve," Showalter said, reading from the medical report. "Will progress as tolerated. Has tolerated all the strengthening exercises well." The Orioles received a warning from Major League Baseball regarding Chris Tillman being in violation of their pace of game mandate on opening day. "I looked back at it and he was standing on the rubber waiting for (Dustin) Pedrioa to leave the on-deck circle," Showalter said. "So, we're going to put that tape together and send it to them and let them review it and see where we got it wrong." Down in Triple-A Norfolk, Eddie Gamboa struck out two batters while retiring Charlotte in order in the top of the first. Gamboa is starting while the Orioles consider whether to fly Kevin Gausman to Detroit for a possible Saturday doubleheader. Alexi Casilla is starting at shortstop for the Tides and Jemile Weeks is at second base. Henry Urrutia is in right field and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Tommy Hunter, anointed the Orioles' closer, is hoping to land an endorsement deal with Subway. And he'd come about it honestly, since he frequently orders their chicken breast on a six-inch wheat roll. "Eat fresh," said reliever Josh Stinson as he passed Hunter's locker. "See, he knows," Hunter said. Let's see how many times Hunter can work Subway into a pre- or postgame interview. Davis would prefer to land an endorsement deal with Chipolte Mexican Grill, which gave Hunter the idea of seeing how many Orioles can benefit from promoting their favorite eating establishment. Update: Markakis has both hits for the Orioles, who trail 2-0 going to the top of the fourth. Chen has allowed six hits and thrown 49 pitches in three innings. The first run scored in the second inning on Will Middlebrooks' double play grounder. And Jackie Bradly Jr. scored from first base with two outs in the third on Ortiz's bloop single to left. Nelson Cruz dived for the ball, though he had no chance at making the catch, and it rolled past him. Update II: Cruz had the Orioles' only extra-base hits in this series before the fourth inning tonight. Davis led off with a double high off the center field fence and scored with two outs on Wieters' double off the right-center field fence. Wieters scored on Delmon Young's single off the right field fence. The Orioles played wall ball in the fourth. Chen has allowed 10 singles and thrown 80 pitches in five innings. The Red Sox have put a runner on base in every inning except one in this series. Gamboa's final line tonight in Norfolk: 5 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 1 home run. He threw 75 pitches, 45 for strikes.



Chen singled out tonight (O's lose 4-3)
O's game blog: Orioles and Red Sox play series fin...
 

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