Showalter speaks after 13-3 loss (Wright optioned)

The Orioles will activate shortstop J.J. Hardy from the disabled list before Saturday afternoon's game against the Blue Jays, forcing them into at least two roster moves. They already intended to activate right-hander Yovani Gallardo to make the start, his first since April 22.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette was headed to manager Buck Showalter's office to discuss whether a fresh bullpen arm also was needed after tonight's 13-3 loss to the Blue Jays before 38,306 at Camden Yards.

"We've got two moves to make between now and tomorrow's game for sure. At least two," Showalter said.

"We were going to wait until after Mike (Wright's) start to see when the smoke cleared where we were. We knew coming out of the last seven games we were going to have some challenges with that off-day taken away from us. It creates some challenges for us."

Wright was charged with eight runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He surrendered three home runs and took home an ERA that's risen to 6.12 in 64 2/3 innings.

"I threw some good pitches, threw some bad pitches," Wright said. "They hit them both."

Showalter said Wright is "an option" for Wednesday's start against the Padres at Camden Yards. Other candidates will be considered.

The Red Sox also lost tonight, allowing the Orioles to stay in first place in the American League East.

There wasn't much else to feel good about on the home side.

Wright has allowed 12 runs and 12 hits in 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts, both against the Blue Jays. Command remains a big issue.

"He was missing," Showalter said. "The first couple pitches he threw the ball down and away, quality. A tough at-bat and won the battle, first hitter. And then just couldn't command the baseball after that. Good hitters made him pay."

Ezequiel Carrera grounded out on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, but Josh Donaldson drew an eight-pitch walk. Ball four was borderline, raising the question of whether it broke his concentration.

"I hope not, I hope not," Showalter said." A lot of those pitches can go either way. It was probably letter of the law a tad off, but he's not going to get that very often, that matchup. But it's kind of after the fact.

"You're going to have a lot of things like that, borderline pitches that go your way or against you. You can probably go through and find some that were called strikes that may not have been strikes, so those things, I'd hate to think that was the case."

So what about Wright's next turn?

"Mike's an option for us next Wednesday," Showalter said. "We'll consider where we are. But we have to make two spots tomorrow. At least two, maybe three.

"With Manny (Machado's) looming departure, it's tough to send out infielders and play with two guys on the bench, none of which are infielders. Pretty complicated. After each game, especially one like this, the chairs kind of move around."

Ubaldo Jimenez has moved from the rotation to the bullpen, and he let two inherited runners score on Donaldson's triple. He was charged with five runs in 2 1/3 innings, surrendering the third home run hit by outfielder Michael Saunders, and came out after 62 pitches.

"Just make a couple decent pitches, good pitches, and then breaking ball wouldn't have much bite to it," Showalter said. "He's equipped to throw 100 pitches tonight and we were hoping ... I was looking at, they used three pitchers out of the pen and we used three out of the pen. A lot different results.

"Mac (T.J. McFarland) threw the ball pretty well, (Brian) Duensing, but a situation where we really needed to get some length there if we can, especially with a pitcher pitching tomorrow who hasn't pitched in the big leagues in a month or two."

Showalter didn't want to use Odrisamer Despaigne and Dylan Bundy tonight, making them available on Saturday.

The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning without adding a second run. They got an RBI single from Mark Trumbo in the third, loaded the bases with no outs and failed to score again.

Machado was thrown out at the plate after tagging up on Jonathan Schoop's pop up to the right side. The Orioles challenged the call, insisting that catcher Russell Martin violated the collision rule and didn't allow for a clear path to the plate, but it was confirmed.

"Pretty blueprint, blocking the plate without the ball," Showalter said. "One of our players said if that's not blocking the plate, they might as well throw the rule out.

"That's not what beat us. We had some opportunities early in the game to score a lot of runs. (Aaron) Sanchez always had a strikeout there waiting. We got it back to 3-1 in two innings and didn't get much.

"That first-pitch strike to Pedro (Alvarez) his first at-bat was a big pitch because we had them in a hole. All of sudden that turned it around. Obviously, a ball."

Also obvious is the challenge of making room on the roster Saturday for two players coming off the disabled list and figuring out which pitcher gives the Orioles the best chance to win Wednesday night.

Update: The Orioles have announced that Wright has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. He's no longer an option to start Wednesday.