Showalter on roster move, rotation and streak (O's lead 8-3)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Reaching the majors hasn't been an issue for reliever Stefan Crichton. The goal now is to avoid the call into manager Buck Showalter's office and his travel papers.

The Orioles recalled Crichton today for the sixth time this season. They needed a fresh arm and optioned Miguel Castro to Double-A Bowie.

Crichton threw a scoreless inning Wednesday for Triple-A Norfolk. He qualified as fresh.

The shuttle was waiting for him.

"I think I'm starting to kind of get a little used to it," said Crichton, who learned of his latest promotion last night after Norfolk's game was halted due to rain. "You don't want to get used to it, but it's kind of the nature of the beast right now.

"Just got to make the most of it. I think part of the reason you stick around here is you perform. I haven't really done that to this point. A little bit of the success here and there doesn't ... I think it's going out there and consistently performing. That's kind of part of it."

Crichton has been outstanding at Norfolk, going 4-1 with a 1.23 ERA and .078 WHIP in 29 1/3 innings. Opponents are batting .187. But he's allowed 11 runs and 24 hits in 11 2/3 innings with the Orioles and opponents are batting .453.

"It's a learning process, so I'm learning how to get guys out up here, and so I take that down there," he said. "It's something I work on and I'm continually trying to get better at it, whether it's a pitch or sequencing or whatever it may be."

Castro will resume starting at Bowie. Keeping the ball in his hand, as Showalter put it.

The Orioles needed 50 pitches from Castro last night, making him the prime candidate to be optioned. They'd like to keep him at Bowie and let him develop, but needs arise at the major league level.

"We just kind of got caught in a bind where he was the best option we had," Showalter said.

Showalter said Crichton is available today to give the Orioles length out of the bullpen "if the hitters cooperate."

"If the other team makes out," he said. "That has to happen, too."

The Orioles considered a second roster move for more relief help before deciding to limit their haul to Crichton.

"We'll start here, and if we need to make an adjustment, we will," Showalter said. "It also requires sending somebody out who's pitching pretty well, all things considered. Without naming those guys. You call can figure it out. We're trying to keep people if we can."

Closer Zach Britton remains scheduled to pitch an inning in relief tonight at Single-A Delmarva and an inning Monday at Bowie.

Infielder Ryan Flaherty took ground balls at shortstop today, but he didn't make any throws.

The Orioles need to hold the Rays under five runs today if they want to avoid setting the major league record at 21 consecutive games. A record that Showalter continues to dismiss.

"You'd have to refresh me on that. What are you talking about, because I don't listen?" he said.

"You all were talking about that a couple days ago. I haven't paid any attention to it. I'm OK if we win 6-5 tonight, just like I said. Obviously, it falls under the ... it's an indication that we haven't pitched well starting-wise. Is that a revelation? It is what it is. I'm not into identifying problems. I'm into trying to figure out a way to solve them. It's pretty easy to identify problems, isn't it? Especially by people who just look at things statistically. That's real easy."

Showalter was asked whether he's considered making any adjustments to the rotation.

"We have some," he replied. "There are some adjustments that we're going to make, but if you kind of look at our options, there are some things that come along with them. We've had to call up some people that weren't really statistically worthy of it, but it's kind of where we are.

"We're in the business of trying to make the guys that we have, and they have a better track record than they've shown, get back to that level. Those types of things, you pay a price for bringing guys up too quick, too, but there's not really ... We've got some guys who are pitching better down there. We've got some guys here that need to pitch better."

Showalter addressed some of his pitchers today about their poor presentation and tempo and how it's impacting other areas, including the defense.

"You talk about those things all the time," he said. "Our presentation has kind of gotten on its heels. Tempo, things.

"Defense had a tempo and rhythm to it, and you come out and walk the two guys of the game, there's a certain tempo and rhythm to the game that's just not there. That's why sometimes it looks really choppy defensively. It affects everything."

Update: Welington Castillo hit a two-run homer off Rays rookie Jacob Faria in the second inning and Adam Jones delivered a solo shot in the third for a 3-0 lead.

Update II: Corey Dickerson hit a two-run homer off Dylan Bundy in the bottom of the third inning and Evan Longoria followed with a solo shot to tie the game.

Bundy walked three batters in the inning.

Update III: Mark Trumbo broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning with a two-out, two-run double off former Orioles farmhand Jumbo Díaz, and Trey Mancini followed with a two-run homer to right field. Orioles 7, Rays 3

Update IV: The Orioles increased the lead to 8-3 in the eighth on Many Machado's sacrifice fly after an infield hit by Joey Rickard and Paul Janish's bunt single.