Vidal Nuño on his return to the Orioles (updated)

BRADENTON, Fla. - Left-hander Vidal Nuño is back in camp and ready to resume his fight for a spot in the Orioles bullpen.

Nuño made two appearances before leaving for the World Baseball Classic, allowing two hits in four scoreless innings. He pitched twice for Team Mexico.

"It was neat, it was something that I took everything in," said Nuño, who got back into Sarasota last night around 9 p.m. "The crowds were amazing out there. The travel, just the whole experience was neat, but excited to be back and rock and roll here."

But how does he get back in a spring training rhythm?

"I'm just going with their program and staying with my routine," he said. "It's just a new day today, so I've got to talk to them and see what's my next session and seeing what's my next game."

The intensity level drops again for Nuño, contending for a spot in the bullpen as lefty long reliever, after pitching before frenzied crowds in the WBC.

"It's a tournament, so I got prepared a little bit earlier than most offseasons," he said. "Just getting that mindset, getting the body going. Spring training is early in the morning. Over there, game time is at 8:30 (p.m.), so a little more rest time. Longer games, longer times at the field.

"The atmosphere was amazing. It was loud, energetic, so it was good to see that and get everything in before regular season comes around and hear the same thing."

Team Mexico filed a protest after defeating Venezuela 11-9 and losing a tiebreaker because Venezuela edged Nuño's club in defensive runs allowed per inning, a ridiculously slim margin of 1.11 to 1.12.

"They didn't count that last inning that we got walked-off, so it is what it is. Got to move on. Just how the system is all messed up," Nuño said.

"It was kind of disappointing just because they told us to win by two. We had chances. Umpires squeezing, there was no instant replay. When I was out there, (José) Altuve was running down the line and with a bang-bang play and there was no instant replay. He was definitely out and that cost me a run right there, but it is what it is. Move on. I just hope the next World Baseball Classic is a little better."

Left-hander Donnie Hart and Zach Stewart are listed as relievers today behind starter Ubaldo Jiménez.

The Orioles brought the following players from minor league camp: pitchers Tim Berry, Brian Moran, Ryan Meisinger, Stefan Crichton and Scott McGough; infielders Sean Coyle, Garabez Rosa and Alex Castellanos; and outfielder Cedric Mullins.

Update: Jiménez lasted 4 2/3 innings, the longest start for an Orioles pitcher this spring, and left with the score tied 1-1. But Stewart let two inherited runners score and three of his own in the fifth, and the Orioles trail 6-1.

Phil Gosselin hit a grand slam off Stewart.

Jiménez is charged with three runs and two hits. He walked five and struck out five.