Roster intrigue and game update (O's lose 10-7)

I've arrived at Camden Yards, appreciative that the 38-minute rain delay allowed me to take my usual seat in the press box before first pitch.

My 12:15 p.m. flight out of Raleigh, N.C. was cancelled "due to weather." Except that it would have arrived in Baltimore while the sun was out.

Purchasing a rental car and driving here was sound in theory, except that multiple accidents in Northern Virginia turned I-95 into a parking lot and the trip into a seven-hour excursion from hell.

The airline had a flight out of Charlotte, but I would have missed the game. Flights were coming in all around me as I reached the BWI rental car return. I thought they were shooting a commercial.

The only issue seemed to be a flight out of Raleigh that I'm guessing was only a partial sellout, as they say in the baseball industry.

Delay flights if there are storm-related concerns. I can always find something to do in an airport.

Anyway, I didn't miss much besides another roster move and the updated All-Star votes.

The Orioles called up Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Oliver Drake, named yesterday as the International League's Pitcher of the Week, and outrighted infielder Paul Janish for assignment after he cleared waivers.

Janish can refuse the assignment due to a previous outright. He's got three days to make a decision.

The move made little sense on the surface. Why remove an infielder while Manny Machado has two games remaining on his suspension? And why bring up the extra reliever.

Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that reliever Brian Duensing has a sore elbow and is undergoing an exam.

OK, why not put him on the disabled list today and recall Drake while also sparing Janish?

Well, the Orioles still need a starter for Wednesday night and they can bring back Mike Wright before the minimum 10 days if he's replacing an injured player. Duensing could go on the disabled list and Wright could be scratched from his scheduled start at Norfolk.

Wright would be working on normal rest. He also would be getting another do-over.

The last one worked out spectacularly.

Otherwise, Odrisamer Despaigne would be a possibility for Wednesday after pitching in relief Sunday afternoon. So would Ubaldo Jimenez, but Wright seems to be the favorite. We'll see how it works out.

Infielder Sharlon Schoop didn't have his contract purchased today. He was stashed but not placed on the active roster.

Tyler Wilson threw 24 pitches in the first inning tonight, but he allowed only one run on Matt Kemp's RBI single and left the bases loaded.

Wilson allowed three hits and hit a batter. He also struck out one.

Update: The Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead, but Derek Norris lined a home run to left field leading off the fourth to tie the game.

Francisco Pena drew a two-out walk and Adam Jones produced the Orioles' first hit with an RBI double. Hyun Soo Kim followed with an RBI single, his sixth hit in his last 12 at-bats.

Update II: Wil Myers singled with two outs in the fourth to give San Diego a 3-2 lead. Wilson has allowed eight hits and thrown 63 pitches.

Update III: Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run opposite-field home run in the bottom of the fourth after Jonathan Schoop's leadoff single to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead.

J.J. Hardy and Ryan Flaherty followed with singles off Padres rookie Luis Perdomo, but the Orioles failed to build on their lead.

Update IV: Alvarez hit another two-run homer, a towering shot to right field in the fifth that gave the Orioles a 6-3 lead.

Alvarez has 11 multi-homer games in his career.

Update V: The game turned ugly for the Orioles in the seventh inning. Mychal Givens faced five batters and retired none, and two inherited runners scored after Oliver Drake replaced him, as the Padres took a 7-6 lead.

Givens was charged with four runs on three hits and two walks. Drake's wild pitch tied the game and the go-ahead run scored on Christian Bethancourt's grounder to Jonathan Schoop, who wanted to throw home before bobbling the ball and taking the out at first.

Update VI: The Orioles lose again tonight, squandering a bases-loaded opportunity in the eighth and falling to the Padres 10-7.

Fernando Rodney retired Adam Jones on a bouncer to second base to end the eighth and Zach Britton was charged with three runs (one earned) in the ninth, the last scoring after Odrisamer Despaigne replaced him.

Alvarez drove in his fifth run with two outs in the ninth, the first earned run allowed by Rodney in 26 appearances.

The Orioles are 40-30 after their second straight defeat, including 26-13 at home.