Orioles option Yefry Ramírez (and other notes, tied 5-5)

The Orioles announced their roster moves this afternoon, recalling left-hander Donnie Hart and selecting right-hander Jhan Maríñez's contract from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning right-handers Yefry Ramírez and Ryan Meisinger to the Tides

Ramírez started Game 2 of yesterday's doubleheader and wasn't going to be available. The Orioles are back down to four starters and have nine relievers and three bench players on the roster.

Ramírez is 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.255 WHIP in four games, including three starts. He can go back into Norfolk's rotation.

Maríñez is back in the majors, his first time with the Orioles, after going 2-3 with 11 saves, a 2.78 ERA and 1.390 WHIP in 45 1/3 relief innings. He's walked 12 batters and struck out 46.

"I was pitching down there and pitching well, and they told me last night. I'm excited," he said.

"I feel pretty good. I'm a starter, I relieve for a couple inning, I'm a closer. I'm doing whatever they want."

The Orioles knew that Maríñez hadn't allowed a run in his last 12 appearances, which solidified his chances of finding a locker at Camden Yards. He worked one inning in 10 of those games and 1 1/3 in the others.

"He's been pitching well down there," said manager Buck Showalter. "Started out a little shaky, but he's really been solid. He was their best option down there, and he's been closing for them down there. He's doing well."

The Orioles signed Maríñez as a minor league free agent in late November.

"I'm here for pitching," he said. "I'm here to win the game. I'm going to be in the bullpen every day available if they need me. Every day, I can pitch."

The doubleheader forced the Orioles to bring up two pitchers with Ramírez and Meisinger unavailable for at least the next three days.

"We just have a need for a couple of arms tonight," Showalter said.

This is Hart's seventh stint with the Orioles in 2018.

Outfielder Jace Peterson can come off the bench tonight after banging his knee into the fence last night in Game 2, the impact leading the Orioles to schedule X-rays that came back negative. There's no structural damage, just a nasty bruise.

"Jace is not going to start," Showalter said. "He's sore. He's available, but I'm going to try to stay away from him.

"He missed a golden opportunity to pitch last night."

Showalter prefers to avoid using position players on the mound, though he's relented in past seasons with Chris Davis and Ryan Flaherty. Peterson would have done it.

"He's been a pleasure to have around," Showalter said. "This guy's a pro. He's a winning person. Jace has been impressive. He'll do whatever."

Manny Machado remains an Oriole and Showalter continues to field questions about the shortstop's future, with the Yankees' entry in the sweepstakes spicing up the current series.

A New York writer asked Showalter this afternoon whether it would surprise him if Machado were traded to the Yankees.

"Not really. Nothing surprises me in today's baseball world," he replied.

"I have a lot of confidence that if and when Manny gets traded that Dan (Duquette) and his people, the scouts and everything, will get the best return that they could possibly get. If it happens to be with that team that we're playing tonight, so be it. I leave that in their hands.

"I have a lot of confidence that they'll end up with what's best for the organization."

Update: Joey Rickard broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a two-out, two-run double off Masahiro Tanaka. Andrew Cashner has retired the first 12 batters.

Update II: Greg Bird hit a three-run homer in the top of the fifth, but Machado tied the game in the bottom half with his 22nd home run.

Update III: Miguel Castro let two inherited runners score after replacing Cashner and the Orioles trail 5-3 in the seventh. Bird had a sacrifice fly and tied his career high with four RBIs.

Update IV: Machado hit a two-run homer off Chad Green in the seventh to tie the score 5-5.