Mike Wright talks about his second exhibition start (O's lose 8-7)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Red Sox 8, Orioles 7

Recap: Mike Wright allowed two runs and four hits in two innings. Christian Walker had a two-run double in the first off Clay Buchholz and L.J. Hoes followed with an RBI single. Reimold walked with the bases loaded in the second after Jorge Marban replaced Buchholz. Oliver Drake pitched a scoreless third, but T.J. McFarland gave up two runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Chaz Roe allowed two runs in the sixth that broke a 4-4 tie, and shortstop Ozzie Martinez left the game after colliding with second baseman Garabez Rosa. Dylan Bundy struck out two while retiring the side in order in the seventh. Brad Brach gave up two runs in the eighth. Rosa hit a two-run single with two outs in the top of the ninth.

Need to know: Hyun Soo Kim stranded six runners in three at-bats, striking out twice and popping up to the catcher. Bundy's fastball was 93-96 mph. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard reached when left fielder David Murphy and center fielder Chris Young let his fly ball drop between them. Ryan Flaherty walked three times and had a stolen base in his first three plate appearances. Flaherty and Reimold executed a double steal. Still no word on the date for the first round of cuts, but manager Buck Showalter said he's ready. The Orioles are 0-6-1.

On deck: Monday, vs. Twins in Sarasota, 1:05 p.m.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. - Hyun Soo Kim is having another difficult day, going hitless in his first three at-bats and stranding six runners. He's struck out twice and popped up to the catcher, as the Orioles and Red Sox are tied 4-4 in the fifth inning.

Kim is 0-for-16 this spring. And for everyone asking me, his contract stipulates that he can't be optioned to the minors without his consent.

Mike Wright probably will begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk, but he's still fighting for a job with the Orioles. In his second start today, he allowed two runs and four hits over two innings. He also walked a batter, struck out two and threw a wild pitch.

Xander Bogaerts, Hanley Ramirez and Rusney Castillo collected doubles off Wright, who threw 28 of 48 pitches for strikes.

"I felt pretty good. I definitely located better this week than last week. The three doubles they hit, I thought they were pretty good pitches," Wright said.

A victim of pitching in a replica Fenway Park?

"No, those balls were blasted. I don't think it matters where they were at," he said.

"I located really well, but they got me a few times. It sucks as far as results, giving up two runs in two innings, but as far as how I felt and my location, I was pretty happy with it."

A reporter wondered if Wright may want to lower his fly ball rate while pitching at Camden Yards.

"Usually when you lower fly ball rates, you pitch lower in the zone," Wright said. "Today, I was pitching low in the zone and I felt pretty solid about it. The first double I gave up was a sinker in, and he still hit it in the air.

"There's only so much I can control. You want to pitch down, and hopefully the results are going to be there regardless of what field you're playing on. You want ground balls, especially with our defense that we had behind us."

The Orioles targeted 50 pitches for Wright. He fell two short and didn't need to make additional throws in the bullpen.

"They made me work a little bit," he said.

The Red Sox sent out their A lineup, including Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval.

"That's one of the things I focused on this offseason," Wright said. "It doesn't matter who's in the box. It starts with me on the mound regardless if it's Ortiz or a minor league guy that's coming up, fighting for a spot. They're both trying to get me, and take me out of the game. It's my job to execute pitches. It doesn't matter who's in there."

Asked how he feels this spring, Wright replied, "Way better. This is the best I've ever felt in any spring training I've ever had."

Why?

"It was a combination of really getting after it conditioning and strength-wise, and also just mentally I've been to the big leagues now and I wasn't as mentally tough and where I wanted to be, so I practiced that a little this offseason," Wright said. "I wouldn't say meditation, but constantly thinking and being in the moment."

T.J. McFarland allowed a run in the fourth, and the Red Sox scored again by opening the fifth with three straight singles, the last an infield hit by Chris Dominguez that brought home the tying run. Third baseman Steve Tolleson fielded the ball behind the bag and hesitated before throwing late to first.