Showalter on Britton's strong outing (game update)

TORONTO - Orioles closer Zach Britton threw another scoreless inning today during his minor league rehab assignment. Britton has thrown scoreless ball over four games and today needed just seven pitches to pitch a scoreless sixth inning for Triple-A Norfolk at Columbus.

Britton got a strikeout on four pitches and then got a groundout, allowed a single and induced a lineout - all on first pitches. Seven pitches, six strikes, not bad.

In four rehab games for three affiliates, Britton has thrown a combined 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. He has given up just two hits over 15 at-bats for an average against of .133.

Despite it going so well for Britton, manager Buck Showalter said he is not at all tempted to bring Britton back sooner than planned, which most likely will be on June 15. It could possibly happen sooner on June 13 with an off-day between those dates. That would be after two more rehab games, with Britton scheduled to pitch on back-to-back days for Norfolk on Sunday and Monday.

"No, it is just the opposite," Showalter said. "We want to stay on it (the planned program). Brian (Ebel, head athletic trainer) has been great about it. There is a reason why it's going so great. You don't want to do something stupid. Everybody has a need for guys like Darren (O'Day) and Zach. We want them right when they get here.

"I am really pleasantly surprised at how well his execution has been. He's had a lot of time to work and do things. I think he knows what's ahead of him."

As for O'Day, he has been on the disabled list with a hyperextended right elbow, retroactive to May 6. On Tuesday, he pitched 2/3 of an inning for Single-A Frederick and walked three batters. He left the game with all three scoring on a grand slam and threw just 10 of his 25 pitches for strikes. O'Day is pitching again tonight for Frederick at Potomac. If that goes well, he could be activated Saturday.

They are slowly getting the band back together in the bullpen.

"That is encouraging and it is exciting, the thought of getting those two guys back," Showalter said. "Feels like we've been without Darren all year. We know what it looks like when we have them all. That is why we talk all the time about how the what-ifs are so important. You are not going to keep your 25-man roster healthy all year."

Colby Rasmus continues on his rehab program. He's been on the DL since April 7 with a strained left hip flexor. Rasmus is 0-for-14 with six strikeouts over four games between Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. He is scheduled to play for Frederick tonight. Rehab assignments for position players can last up to 20 days.

What does Showalter need to see from Rasmus before he can return to the Orioles?

"We need to see something that makes you think he's getting into playing form," Showalter said. "To see him square up some balls and hit some line drives and get some hits. He knows that. It's very early in his rehab assignment."

On another topic, the Orioles rotation has now put together a run of six quality starts the last seven games since May 28 with an ERA of 3.32. Dylan Bundy and Alex Cobb combined to allow one run over 13 innings at Citi Field. Showalter has said several times that he expected solid pitching out of this year's rotation.

"We felt like it would be (good)," he said. "David (Hess) has helped a lot. They are kind of feeding off each other. Their track record is too good. We think it's going to be a rotation that gives us a chance to win. We have to figure out a way to score some runs and help these guys."

Showalter had more props today for outfielder Craig Gentry. He was involved in some keys plays late in yesterday's 1-0 win over the Mets. He pinch-ran, stole a base and scored the game's only run in the eighth. In the last of the ninth, he held Todd Frazier to a single on a ball in the gap and kept the tying run out of scoring position.

"You can make a case that other than Bundy's outing, him being the difference," Showalter said. "The ball he cut off to lead off the ninth inning, how many right fielders cut that ball off? They make the other team change the tempo in which they do things. They have to adjust in so many ways. You want to stretch a ball into a double? You can't do it. He has arm strength. He can bunt and steal a base. Anytime you can make the other team adjust, it tilts the field."

All tied up: The Orioles and Blue Jays ended the first in a 1-1 tie. Trey Mancini led off the game with a double to left off Jaime García, advanced to third on a grounder and scored on Manny Machado's sac fly. It was his 50th RBI good for a 1-0 lead.

Curtis Granderson led off the home first with a home run to right off Hess to tie it up. Granderson battled deep into the count and hit the homer on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. It was his fifth of the year, his 26th in his career versus the Orioles and his 46th career leadoff homer.

Same score: It's 1-1 at the end of four. Hess pitched around a leadoff double in the third and stranded two in the fourth. He's at 69 pitches and Toronto is 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Chris Davis has fanned twice. The last time came with two on to end the O's fourth.