Jason Garcia on recent success and his future with the O's (plus other notes)

Right-hander Jason Garcia has just about made it through his Rule 5 season. Barring a trade, he and the Orioles know that he will be in the organization next year. There will no Rule 5 restrictions on Garcia next season and he could be optioned to the minors then.

"I really like it here," Garcia said. "It's a great organization with a great coaching staff. Even down in the minor leagues, we've got a lot of good players and a lot of good coaches. I'm looking forward to the next couple of years. Hope to stay in black and orange for a long time."

In 18 games, the 22-year-old right-hander with the mid-90s fastball is 1-0 with a 4.33 ERA. Garcia spent some time on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis. But since he returned to the active roster from the DL on Aug. 6, Garcia has been throwing well. He has pitched scoreless outings in eight of 10 appearances with a 2.70 ERA, a .167 average against and with 12 strikeouts to three walks in 13 1/3 innings.

"My confidence level, I wouldn't say it changed. But I've just learned to not try and do too much," he said. "Early in the year, I felt I had to impress everyone and had to be perfect. Instead of pitching and helping the team, I think I was worrying too much about what the situation was. I've realized this is the same game. Obviously, the competition is different in A ball and Double-A ball. But this is the same game."

Garcia will head west next month to pitch in the Arizona Fall League.

"I haven't gotten in a lot of innings in this year, so just continue everything I've been doing since I've been back off the DL," he said. "Getting some extra innings and just want to finish the year strong and set myself up for next year in Arizona."

The Orioles got Garcia in the Rule 5 draft from the Boston organization, through Houston. He was with the Red Sox, the team that drafted him in round 17 of 2010, through last season. Houston actually took Garcia fourth in that draft, but the Orioles worked out a pre-draft trade to get Garcia for cash considerations last December.

He had never pitched above low Single-A until this year. Last season, Garcia pitched in the New York-Penn League and the South Atlantic League.

Pitching in the majors this year was a huge jump for him and there was so much to learn. Garcia said his teammates were there this year to show him the ropes.

"They've helped me so much," he said. "Just in becoming a big league player on and off the field. You know, learning how to handle myself. Learning how to deal with situations that I've never dealt with. Learning how to talk with media and deal with fans. Everyone here has been so helpful and I'm very thankful for that."

When asked which teammates have been there the most for him, Garcia pointed to two players including one no longer an Oriole.

"You know, Zach (Britton) has been really, really helpful, and when he was here, Tommy (Hunter) helped me a lot. But everyone has been very helpful," he said.

Another win over Boston: The Orioles' success against Boston continued last night. It just took 13 innings, and 4 hours and 20 minutes, to record their latest win over the Red Sox. The Orioles began this year going 2-3 against Boston. But, since April 25, they are 9-1, giving them an 11-4 season series edge. As I've pointed out previously, the Orioles have now won four consecutive season series against Boston for the first time since 1964-67.

The Red Sox arrived in Baltimore Monday having won seven of their last nine and were 7-1-1 their past nine series. But they've lost 2-0 and 6-5 games at Camden Yards to lose just their second series since mid-August.

Over the last four years, the Orioles are 46-25 (.648) against Boston. They've come a long way since a time they were cannon fodder for Boston, like in 2009 when the Orioles went 2-16 in the season series.

Baysox bounced in series opener: The Double-A Bowie Baysox lost 3-1 at Reading last night in Game 1 of the Eastern League Championship Series. Brock Stassi and Art Charles hit solo homers for the Fightin Phils as they took the opener. Bowie lost the series opener against Altoona before taking the next three games.

The series continues this evening with left-hander Nick Additon on the hill for Bowie. You can listen to the broadcast at baysox.com, 1430wnav.com and via the Tune-In radio app by searching "Bowie Baysox."

Tickets are available for Game 3 of the Championship Series set for Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6:35 p.m. at Bowie's Prince George's Stadium. Get tickets today over the phone at 301-805-6000 or online at baysox.com.