Paredes enjoying life atop AL batting leaders (Drake makes debut)

MIAMI - The scoreboard at Marlins Park listed the batting leaders in the American League this afternoon as players hit on the field. Jimmy Paredes' name appeared between Nelson Cruz and Miguel Cabrera. Impressive company, for sure.

It's even more impressive when you consider that the list was outdated. Cruz dropped one point behind Paredes after going 1-for-4 earlier today. And Paredes upped his average to .359 tonight with a single in the first inning that also extended his streak of reaching base to 20 consecutive games.

Not that Paredes needed additional pressure heaped upon his shoulders as he stepped into the batter's box.

"That's OK, we're good," he said. "We'll see what happens in the game. I know how to put this in mind. I go out to play with my mind clean and I focus on my game and I do what I do the best I can.

"I saw that I could be there in the leaders yesterday after four at-bats, but I know I don't focus on that. I try to go and play and do well and if that happens, that's good."

Paredes said it's "amazing" to be wedged between two of the game's most accomplished hitters coming into today.

"It's surprising to see being between those two guys," he said. "Those are big men right there, big hitters. Like, wow.

"I feel great. I thank God for giving me that. So all I have to do is keep doing what I'm doing and focus when I do it and not try to do too much. Be focused and be in the leaders for a long time. I feel happy if I do that."

Will Paredes sneak another peek at the leader board?

"Maybe," he said, the smile widening on his face. "That would be great, but I don't want to focus on that. I don't want to have any pressure on that. I want to make sure I play my game and not think about that. Just do my job in that. I don't want to focus on that."

Manager Buck Showalter gave Paredes another start at second base. Paredes is still trying to find a comfort zone, failing to be in the proper position a few times last night and making an ill-advised throw home.

"I never give up," he said. "I always in my practice, I practice on my defense. I always go and practice on the field and I practice hard. And I practice at different positions - second, third and short. I can play outfield, too.

"People say I have too (much) work to do, but that's what I have to do, work. You're going to see your work give you something later."

Showalter considered putting Paredes in left field tonight before deciding that it might present too much of a challenge in this ballpark. The Orioles want him to work out at the position after the season, whether it's in instructional league or winter ball.

"I played outfield a couple times in 2012. In 2010, I started to play outfield when they tried to move me there. I don't feel like pressure with that," Paredes said.

"If they send me to play outfield, I'll play there with no pressure. I think I can do it. That's how I feel. I think I can do it, play outfield without any problem. I'm out there to catch the ball, throw to the cutoff man and have fun."

Showalter sat down with coaches Wayne Kirby and Bobby Dickerson to decide Paredes' position for tonight's game. His bat must stay in the lineup.

"I thought about the outfield, but I don't think that's (good), especially in this ballpark," Showalter said. "He's more comfortable in the infield."

Paredes couldn't be more comfortable at the plate, carrying his hot spring into the regular season with the only interruption a stop on the disabled list.

"It's been fun to watch," Showalter said. "He's played like a guy that should be leading the American League in hitting. Every time you think (he'll stumble), all the sudden there goes another one. You cannot be susceptible to one pattern or one pitch to be leading the league in hitting at any point, which Nelson is not either.

"I'm really happy for Jimmy, because he's getting something back from what he put in it."

Showalter said he isn't worried about Paredes seeing his name among the batting leaders.

"I think it's great," he said. "I don't think he's going to sneak up on anybody anymore. He's out of the ambush mode, but he keeps doing it."

Manny Machado and Paredes began tonight's game with singles off Marlins starter Dan Haren, but the Orioles failed to score. Adam Jones grounded into a force on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Chris Davis struck out and Delmon Young lined to short.

Davis has 58 strikeouts in 39 games. He hadn't struck out in the past two games.

Update: Mike Wright has five scoreless innings and his first major league hit, which almost produced his first RBI and broke a scoreles tie. But Travis Snider was thrown out at the plate to end the sixth.

Snider has walked, singled and doubled. Manny Machado has two hits. Chris Davis is 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, raising his season total to 60.

The Orioles are 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and have stranded nine.

Wright has thrown 65 pitches in five innings. He hasn't allowed a run in his first 12 1/3 major league innings. He issued his first walk and hit his first batter in the fifth.

Update II: Wright tosssed seven scoreless innings, with three hits, three walks (two intentional), four strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 98 pitches, 56 for strikes.

In two starts, Wright has allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out 10 in 14 1/3 scoreless innings.

The last Orioles pitcher with at least 14 1/3 scoreless innings to start his major league career was Dave Ford in September 1978. He had 15.

Update III: We're still scoreless in the 11th inning.

The Marlins came close to ending it after a pitch from Oliver Drake got away from Caleb Joseph with two outs and Adeiny Hechavarria at third base. Drake covered the plate, blocked it and applied the tag after taking the throw from Joseph.

Can the pitcher block the plate legally?

Drake, in his major league debut, has allowed two hits in two scoreless innings.

Update IV: Drake allowed two hits and struck out two over three scoreless innings. He threw 37 pitches. The most he threw in a game at Triple-A Norfolk this season was 40.