Showalter on Valencia, Bundy and Davis (O's down 5-3)

The Orioles optioned left-hander Donnie Hart to Triple-A Norfolk and transferred infielder Luis Sardiñas to the 60-day disabled list to create room for infielder Tim Beckham on the 25- and 40-man rosters.

Sardiñas went on the 10-day DL retroactive to April 29 with a lower back strain, but he recently sprained his left ankle.

Danny Valencia didn't crack the Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener against the Mariners, but he's going to resurface with left-handed starters lined up the next two nights.

Manager Buck Showalter won't bury Valencia on the bench. It would be foolish considering that Valencia is batting .282/.348/.448 in 51 games and has posted identical .282 averages versus left-handers and right-handers to chip away at his reputation for being a platoon player.

"I think it's about as good as I've seen him versus right-handed and left-handed pitching," Showalter said. "Danny stepped up defensively. He's having a solid year.

"When the team's had its struggles, it's like everything gets a blanket put around it that everything's not good and there are some good. Danny has kind of been re-establishing himself in the minds of some people why he's been wanted on a lot of clubs and will be again."

Beckham's return from the disabled list pries third base from Valencia's grasp, but Showalter will find ways to keep the veteran engaged in the competition.

"We're going to keep everybody in the flow," Showalter said. "The one thing it's going to allow, I really wanted to give certain guys a blow. It helps our versatility. I'm planning on potentially playing Danny in the outfield some. He's played some right field. Tim could play out there if we had to. Tim can play just about anywhere."

Valencia is 3-for-25 (.120) with 10 strikeouts lifetime against Mariners starter Félix Hernández. He wasn't going to start tonight.

"I spoke with Danny today, especially after looking at his numbers off of Hernández. We were kidding about it," Showalter said. "Of course, Hernández is a lot different pitcher now than he was. But as far as both of those guys, they'll stay in the flow, they'll both play tomorrow and the next day. We'll continue to look for ways to get him in there."

Dylan Bundy is questionable to make Thursday afternoon's start after rolling his ankle at second base Saturday after collecting his first major league hit. The Orioles are making contingency plans.

"It's something that we're going to have to see and prepare in case he can't," Showalter said.

The disabled list is a possibility for Bundy.

"Yeah, we'd probably do that, but don't hold me to that," Showalter said. "If it's just a couple of days thing, I'd wait if we could, but probably, because if we go back to seven pitchers in the 'pen today, we're going to have to make sure we're covered there."

The Orioles went back to seven relievers by optioning Hart, who failed to retire any of the four batters faced Saturday in Atlanta.

Chris Davis is back in the lineup at Camden Yards for the first time since June 11. He sat out eight games and has gone 2-for-12 with a double, home run and five RBIs upon his return.

Asked what he's expecting from Davis here, Showalter replied, "Continued good at-bats and good presentation."

"I thought he had some good things on and looking forward to that continuing." Showalter added. "I think he's in a pretty good place mentally right now. I'd like to have him have some success for his sake statistically, which he already has had. He's had more extra-base hits here recently than he has in a while."

Update: Andrew Cashner retired the first two batters in the second inning, allowed the next five to reach base and fell behind 2-0 on Dee Gordon's two-run single. Cashner threw 12 pitches in the first and 30 in the second.

Update II: Jonathan Schoop led off the fifth inning with his eighth home run to reduce the lead to 2-1.

Update III: Denard Span homered with two outs in the sixth to give Seattle a 3-1 lead. Cashner had retired 10 in a row.

Update IV: The Orioles scored twice in the sixth to tie the game 3-3 after loading the bases with no outs - Trey Mancini and Schoop had RBIs on productive outs - but Miguel Castro loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh and gave up two runs. He threw a wild pitch and Mitch Haniger had a sacrifice fly.