O's game blog: What now at third base?

The Orioles have Steve Pearce to take over for Chris Davis at first base. But what is going to happen at third base, where Davis had made 16 starts over the last three weeks? There is a job to be won there for someone, most likely among Ryan Flaherty, Kelly Johnson and Jimmy Paredes. Johnson said this morning that he sees it that way. There is a great opportunity out there now for someone to step up and become the O's third baseman while Davis is out. "For sure. Absolutely," Johnson said. "People have to step up, pretty much the whole team. But when you lose that threat and the production, it makes it that much more vital to have someone step up, have good at-bats and be a threat. "Anytime your name is called, you are going to the post trying to make something happen. I was excited to come here and be a part of this team and I'm even more excited now. "The whole team has to step up, I mean, that is just how it works. The good teams find a way to come together and everyone pulls in the same direction. It is not just about one guy. They've already overcome a couple of injuries here." Johnson has only been an Oriole since Aug. 30, when he was acquired in a trade from Boston. But I asked him how it felt yesterday in the clubhouse and around the team after the news of Davis' suspension came out. "Lot of shock, I think, just more than anything. Kind of head-scratching. It was good to go out and win two games. That helps," he said. The 32-year-old Johnson is 3-for-15 with three doubles and two RBIs in 10 games as an Oriole. He has played in the postseason twice, with the 2005 Braves and the 2013 Rays. Now he has a chance to win a spot on the Orioles' playoff roster and maybe his chance to make it got a little better after yesterday. "I go one day at a time on all of it," Johnson said. "Dan Duquette and the coaches, that is their job. I just go out and play as hard as I can. Hopefully I don't give anyone a reason to even think about me not being on that (playoff roster)." On the mound here this afternoon, Miguel Gonzalez (9-7, 3.22 ERA) pitches for the Orioles against New York's Shane Greene (4-3, 3.57 ERA). Gonzalez has not allowed a run over 15 1/3 innings his past two starts and has given up just one run over 22 1/3 frames in his last three starts. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer nine times in his last 10 starts, going 5-2 with a 1.82 ERA in this stretch. The Orioles begin play today leading the American League East by 11 1/2 games over Toronto and 12 1/2 over New York with a magic number of five.