Orioles option Mike Wright to Norfolk

The Orioles have optioned struggling starter Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk and selected the contract of left-hander Brian Duensing from the Tides.

Duensing, who's wearing No. 50, will be in the bullpen.

Wright went 2-3 with a 5.88 ERA in 10 games (nine starts), with 32 earned runs over 49 innings. He allowed six runs and seven hits over 2 2/3 innings last night in the Orioles' 13-9 win over the Red Sox at Camden Yards.

Wright will start Monday for Norfolk. The Orioles want him staying in the rotation.

"Mike is going to be a good starter for the Baltimore Orioles," said manager Buck Showalter, who informed Wright of the club's decision early this afternoon.

Wright was at Camden Yards by 10:30 a.m. to watch video of his starts this season.

"Mike was fine," Showalter said. "He knows when it's good enough and when it's not."

The Orioles need a starter for Monday night against the Royals at Camden Yards. T.J. McFarland is a candidate, but Showalter said Duensing will remain in the bullpen.

Duensing would give the 'pen a second left-hander if McFarland at least temporarily joins the rotation.

Yovani Gallardo is making his first rehab start today in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Single-A Frederick. Showalter said Gallardo probably needs at least two starts in the minors, "but don't hold me to it."

Duensing, 33, had an opt-out clause in his contract and the Orioles decided to bring him up, filling their 40-man roster in the process. They signed him to a minor league deal on May 25 after the Royals released him from Triple-A Omaha.

Duensing spent the past seven seasons with the Twins, going 41-37 with a 4.13 ERA in 354 games (61 starts).

Combining his appearances between Norfolk and Omaha, Duensing was 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and two saves in 15 games over 23 1/3 innings. He made three relief appearances with the Tides and registered three scoreless innings while striking out six batters.