NEW YORK – Colton Cowser finally got the phone call.

The organization’s No. 2 prospect is joining the Orioles in New York, according to a source. The club is expected to select his contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Space must be cleared on the 40-man roster, and the Orioles could make other moves prior to Wednesday night’s game against the Yankees.

They’re carrying three catchers, which always is a temporary arrangement. And they might want to bring up a pitcher, with only 12 on the active roster.

What’s certain is that Cowser, ranked No. 14 among baseball’s prospects by MLB Pipeline, is in position to make his major league debut.

NEW YORK – The forearm smash delivered by Aaron Hicks in front of the visiting dugout today sounded like a clap of thunder. A home run against his former team deserving of an aggressive celebration.

Adam Frazier’s two-run shot later in the inning didn’t carry the same revenge vibes, but it reset a game that was getting away from the Orioles.

They couldn’t pull it back again.

Giancarlo Stanton broke the tie with a ground ball single into shallow center field in the bottom of the fifth, a strange play that saw Gleyber Torres score from first base, and the Orioles stayed behind in an 8-4 loss to the Yankees before an announced crowd of 43,876.

Six defeats in the last seven games have lowered the Orioles’ record to 49-35 and allowed the Yankees to creep within two of second place in the division.

NEW YORK – Austin Hays hit in the cage this morning while the tarp was unrolled at Yankee Stadium, followed by an announcement that the game wouldn't start on time.

Bad forecast, but good injury news for the Orioles.

Hays is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. He’s avoided the injured list and nearing a return to the lineup.

“Trying to give him a little bit of a work day,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “The hip feels better.”

Jordan Westburg didn't have his left hand wrapped this morning and he's playing third base.

NEW YORK – The Orioles have switched from a balanced roster, going with three catchers today after reinstating James McCann from the injured list.

Left-hander Cionel Pérez is on the 15-day IL with left forearm soreness, a move backdated to yesterday.

Lefty Bruce Zimmermann has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, eligible because he’s replacing an injured player. Reliever Chris Vallimont was optioned after making his major league debut last night and recording his first career strikeout.

Pérez has registered a 4.45 ERA and 1.780 WHIP in 33 games, averaging 4.7 walks per nine innings. His last five appearances have been scoreless.

Losing Pérez reduces the bullpen to seven relievers. The club held onto catcher Anthony Bemboom, who’s out of minor league options.

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde worked the room Sunday morning, gathering his players for a pregame talk about the season’s first half and what he expected from them in the second, pointing and calling out the names of his four All-Stars, and giving out enthusiastic hugs.

The bearer of bad news in many instances – spring training cuts, minor league demotions – cherished the opportunity to spread some joy.

“Those types of moments are some of the best parts of this job, and it’s super special,” he said yesterday. “You’re surrounded with guys who have worked their whole lives to get to this point, and to have individual accolades that are incredible, and just to be able to talk to them about that, it’s just a great feeling.

“They’re so excited for this opportunity. The country’s going to be watching. They’re going to be on the red carpet. They’re going to be doing a lot of cool stuff, so I’m just excited for them.”

Hyde feels bad for one.

NEW YORK – Austin Hays and Jordan Westburg worked out today with their Orioles teammates and apparently have dodged serious injuries.

Hays is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. X-rays on Westburg’s left hand came back negative, and he hit on the field this afternoon.

“Both of them feel a lot better today than they did after the game yesterday,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Still a little sore, but I think we got lucky.”

Hyde described two tough collisions – Hays with Twins first baseman Donovan Solano in the second inning and Westburg with a 101.3 mph fastball from Jhoan Duran with the bases loaded loaded in the eighth that plated the go-ahead run.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Hyde said.

NEW YORK – Austin Hays and Jordan Westburg are out of the Orioles lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Yankees.

Hays is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. Westburg was hit in the back of the left hand yesterday by a 101 mph fastball.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing third base, with Cedric Mullins lowered to sixth. Aaron Hicks is in left field and Adam Frazier is playing right.

Ramón Urías is the second baseman. Ryan O’Hearn is the cleanup hitter.

Tyler Wells has the second-lowest opponent batting average in the majors among qualifying pitchers at .185, behind the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani at .180, but he’s allowed 19 home runs to tie for third-most behind Lance Lynn’s 22 and Yusei Kikuchi’s 21.

NEW YORK – Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman has more to do at the All-Star Game than represent the American League.

He’s also trying to win the Home Run Derby.

Rutschman is participating in next Monday’s event at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, joining the Mets’ Pete Alonso, the Rays’ Randy Arozarena, the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez.

Two more hitters are needed to complete the field.

Trey Mancini is the last Orioles player to participate in the Derby, finishing as runner-up to Alonso in 2021.

The key moments from the eighth inning of yesterday’s game could be plucked from multiple spots.

Start with the tapper near the mound that Adley Rutschman turned into his 13^th infield hit of the season, beating the throw from Twins reliever Jhoan Duran with one out. Anthony Santander saw nine pitches, including three clocked higher than 102 mph, and lined a single into center field. Aaron Hicks tied the game with a single that interrupted his 2-for-26 streak, getting the barrel on a 102.6 mph fastball.

Rookie Jordan Westburg stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and was drilled behind the left hand, the impact of a 101.3 mph heater sending the ball over the protective screen behind the home dugout. The pitch sending the Orioles to a 2-1 win at steamy Camden Yards, enabling them to avoid the sweep.

Within the chaos was a Ryan O’Hearn walk, after he came off the bench to hit for Ramón Urías and got ahead 3-0. Two curveballs and a 101.5 mph fastball missed the mark, and the Twins put him on base intentionally.

O’Hearn has struggled to reach it lately, mired in his own 2-for-26 slump before yesterday. Manager Brandon Hyde sat him against Twins right-hander Sonny Gray, a matchup that otherwise would have put O’Hearn in the cleanup spot.

For the first time since 2016, the Orioles will have more than one representative at the All-Star Game.

Try four.

Signs of improvement on the field and in the perceptions of fans and the industry are everywhere.

Catcher Adley Rutschman was chosen as an American League reserve behind starter Jonah Heim, who beat him in phase 2 of voting. Austin Hays will be a spare outfielder, and relievers Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano will be in the bullpen.

“How about that? So cool,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

The Orioles will attempt today to avoid being swept in a three-game series, which hasn’t happened since May 13-15, 2022 in Detroit.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing third base. Cedric Mullins has been lowered to fifth in the order against Twins right-hander Sonny Gray after going 4-for-24 since his reinstatement from the injured list.

Austin Hays is the cleanup hitter today. Ramón Urías gets the start at first base.

Jordan Westburg is playing second base instead of Adam Frazier in the infield carousel. Adley Rutschman is serving as designated hitter.

Ryan O’Hearn has been batting cleanup against right-handers, but he’s 2-for-23 on the homestand. Aaron Hicks is 2-for-24 in his last eight games.

Nick Vespi flipped through his memory cards yesterday and couldn’t find the last date that he pitched three innings in a game. Didn’t know the year or the level. Just that it happened.

Vespi guessed that he was a starter in A ball. Don’t quote him on it. Just seemed to make the most sense.

Researching the topic at his locker wasn’t an option or an interest. Leave it to the professionals.

Prior to tossing three innings in his final appearance with Triple-A Norfolk on June 24 in Nashville, and under special circumstances, Vespi hadn’t reached that total since May 4, 2021 with Double-A Bowie in Altoona.

So, not A ball. But it’s a rarity in his relief days.

The Orioles knew that the bullpen wasn’t equipped to provide length this afternoon. The only decision was which reliever to send down.

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk this morning, and the Orioles selected Chris Vallimont’s contract.

Nick Vespi was spared after tossing three scoreless innings last night. Zimmermann has pitched three times since Monday, working two innings last night.

Keegan Akin is on the 15-day injured list with lower back discomfort. Cole Irvin is starting Sunday afternoon.

“Definitely needed somebody for the next couple days,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Hopefully, we can get a couple good starts and get some length out of our starters. But wanted to bring a guy who can give us some innings if we need it, and so we brought Chris here for today.”

The bullpen never rests.

The Orioles made another move this morning, selecting Chris Vallimont’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning left-hander Bruce Zimmermann.

Reliever Mychal Givens was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create room on the 40-man roster. He’s headed down to Sarasota next week and will pitch in the Florida Complex League after the All-Star break.

Givens hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since making his sixth appearance on May 31. He won’t join them before August.

Vallimont, 26, is waiting to make his major league debut. He’s posted a 5.02 ERA in 22 games with Norfolk, including eight starts.

Cedric Mullins’ status as one of the longest tenured players on the Orioles roster brings a responsibility that he embraces. Counseling the young prospects who could learn from his own experiences. Good and bad.

Mullins wrapped his arms around Kyle Stowers’ situation while they were at the spring training complex in Sarasota.

Stowers was trying to return from a shoulder injury, the inflammation and recovery period keeping him out of games with Triple-A Norfolk for more than a month. Mullins was immersed in a running progression after straining his right groin.

They had more in common than health.

Stowers broke camp with the Orioles, was optioned April 9 after four at-bats, returned to the club and was sent down again May 15 after a four-strikeout game against the Pirates. He was 2-for-30 with 12 strikeouts.

The players-only meeting held by the Twins after Wednesday’s game in Atlanta must have lit a fire under the team. Or perhaps the searing words from their manager.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde predicted before tonight’s game that the Twins would get hot. His words rang true.

Dean Kremer surrendered two more home runs to increase his season total to 19 in 17 starts, and Minnesota maintained its hold on the Orioles with an 8-1 victory before an announced crowd of 34,792 at Camden Yards.

Fans came for the baseball, but also the floppy hats and “DJ Diesel.” The popular giveaway item and musical entertainment from NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal would have to carry the night.

Kremer was down 5-0 after three innings and didn’t record an out in the fourth before leaving with two runners on base. Joey Gallo homered in the second inning, Max Kepler hit a two-run shot in the third, and the Orioles fell to 48-32. They’ve dropped eight of their last 14 games, and their three-game streak matches the longest of the season.

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate is getting a second opinion on his right elbow after undergoing further testing this week.

Tate is on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain. He hasn’t pitched this season.

“We’re hoping that everything is clear and he’s able to start a rehab assignment following that,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

Tate was removed from his first rehab assignment after allowing 18 earned runs (20 total) and 21 hits with 11 walks in 10 2/3 innings between High-A Aberdeen, Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Eight of his 13 appearances came with the Tides, and he surrendered 10 runs and 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings against International League batters before returning to Baltimore.

A right forearm/flexor strain kept Tate off the Opening Day roster, with the discomfort beginning in November.

Jordan Westburg is on the bench tonight, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Twins at Camden Yards. Gunnar Henderson is the shortstop, Ramón Urías is the third baseman and Adam Frazier is the second baseman.

Westburg and Brian Roberts (2001) are the only Orioles middle infielders to record at least five hits in their first three career games, according to STATS.

Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter tonight, with Anthony Bemboom behind the plate.

Ryan O’Hearn remains in the cleanup spot.

Dean Kremer is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts after allowing six earned runs in five innings in Milwaukee on June 7. Kremer has received 20 runs over those three starts and is averaging 6.24 per nine innings this season, the fifth-highest total among American League qualifiers.

The Orioles placed left-handed reliever Keegan Akin on the 15-day injured list this afternoon with lower back discomfort, a move that’s retroactive to yesterday. Lefty Nick Vespi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

Akin has allowed 10 earned runs (13 total) and 12 hits in his last four appearances over four innings. He was charged with two earned runs and four total in the 10^th inning Wednesday against the Reds and couldn’t record the final out.

The appearance left Akin with a 6.85 ERA.

The Orioles optioned Akin on May 9 and recalled him three weeks later. The media will find out later today if his absence could extend beyond 15 days.

Vespi has registered a 1.71 ERA and 0.987 WHIP in 23 games with Norfolk. His last appearance was Saturday.

The Orioles begin their final homestand tonight before the All-Star break.

Sneaked up on you, didn’t it?

There was movement in the standings yesterday, with the Orioles idle and the Rays winning in Arizona to extend its division lead to 5 ½ games. The Yankees won in Oakland and crept within four of the Orioles.

Two straight losses to the Reds have left the Orioles 17 games above .500. They’re 6-7 since winning five in a row.

No team in the American League ranks higher than the Orioles in the wild card standings. The top three reside in their division.