Leo Gomez named Aberdeen manager (and other notes)

Well, that didn't take long. The Orioles finally named their manager at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Former third baseman Leo Gomez will call the shots from the IronBirds' dugout. Gomez has spent the past two seasons as a field coach for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles (2009) and Bluefield (2010). Gomez spent six of his seven major league seasons with the Orioles, batting .245 with 62 home runs and 203 RBIs in 475 games. I forgot that he played for the Cubs in 1996, tying his career high with 17 homers. The Aberdeen job became vacant when Gary Kendall moved up to Double-A Bowie. The IronBirds begin their season at home June 17 against Hudson Valley. Hence, the need to name a manager this month. Meanwhile ... The Orioles haven't won a season series with Oakland since going 8-3 in 1998. They split eight games in 2007. Nolan Reimold set career highs with two homers, four hits and four RBIs yesterday. According to Elias, the only other Orioles to homer twice as part of a 4-for-4 or better game were Rafael Palmeiro (1995), Roberto Alomar (1997) and Albert Belle (1999). Reimold's multi-homer game was the first by an Oriole since Josh Bell homered twice off Cliff Lee on Aug. 21, 2010 at Camden Yards. Lee was pitching for the Rangers. In Chris Tillman's nine starts year, the Orioles have scored 15 runs while he was in the game, including 10 in his last three outings. The Orioles haven't scored while he was on the mound in four of his nine starts. Tillman hasn't allowed a home run in his last six starts. The last Orioles starter to go six or more consecutive starts without surrendering a homer was Daniel Cabrera from Sept. 12, 2006 to April 20, 2007. Brian Roberts has the Orioles' longest hitting streak this season at 12 games. Nick Markakis has hit in 11 straight games, going 17-for-47 with a double, homer, two RBIs and 10 runs scored. Vladimir Guerrero has also hit in 11 straight games, going 19-for-50 (.380) with five doubles, a homer, eight RBIs and six runs scored. The bullpen hasn't allowed a run in 15 consecutive innings over the last four games after giving up 23 earned runs in the previous 24 1/3 innings over four games. Jim Johnson has allowed two earned runs in his last 10 games and 14 innings, lowering his ERA from 5.14 on May 4 to 3.21. After allowing two home runs in his first four appearances, Johnson has surrendered one in his last 18 outings.