A few leftovers from yesterday's win

SARASOTA, Fla. - Cody Carroll was handed the ball and a two-run lead yesterday and retired the side in order to close out a 7-5 win over the Tigers. All it took were three fly balls - from Kody Clemens, Héctor Sánchez and Wenceel Perez - to get the save.

Carroll struck out three batters in his previous outing on Thursday, also in the ninth inning, but a fly ball from the Phillies' Darick Hall carried over the right field fence for a game-tying two-run homer.

Saves come and go.

"You just pretend it didn't happen, really," Carroll said yesterday. "You take the positives out of it. Guy jumped on a first-pitch heater and it is what it is. But I still thought I threw well last week. I was able to finally get some sliders over for strikes, and being able to locate the fastball the past two outings feels great."

It stayed in the ballpark yesterday in Carroll's third appearance of the spring - the second scoreless and first without a baserunner.

"It was a good outing," he said. "I was just trying to fill up the zone. They're really aggressive, too, so that helped a lot."

* The Orioles came to camp without a confirmed starter at shortstop, just some speculation and a handful of candidates. A winner hasn't been declared after a few weeks, but Rule 5 pick Richie Martin may be in the lead with his .462 average in 13 at-bats and steady - and at times spectacular - play in the field for a club preaching the need for improved defense.

Manager Brandon Hyde could continue to move players around, as he's done throughout camp. Jonathan Villar can play the middle infield, but seems likely to stay at second. However, Alcides Escobar remains in camp after signing a minor league deal and the other Rule 5 player, Drew Jackson, has been in constant motion.

"I feel good about it," Hyde said. "I just like our versatility. I think we have a lot of guys who can play a lot of different spots and it allows us to really see guys.

"Drew Jackson played center (Saturday), second base a couple innings. Goes in at short (yesterday). He's playing well in all positions. Gives a big at-bat in the eighth inning. Moves a runner and scores a guy with a sac fly.

"I'm feeling good about our versatility and I think we have a lot of options. And I think it's going to be a great competition the last few weeks."

* Yusniel Diaz had two more hits yesterday and neither ball left the infield.

Diaz showed off impressive speed while beating out two grounders to shortstop. But he also was thrown out by a mile trying to steal second base in the sixth inning.

The two hits make Diaz 9-for-20 this spring with two doubles and a home run.

* Ryan Mountcastle is starting to heat up with three hits in his last four at-bats, all of them while coming off the bench over the weekend.

Mountcastle, now 4-for-17, replaced Renato Núñez at third base yesterday and looped a single into center field leading off the bottom of the eighth inning in a tie game. He moved up on a wild pitch and a passed ball and scored on Jackson's sacrifice fly.

The at-bat impressed because Mountcastle fouled off some tough pitches from left-hander Gregory Soto to prolong it, then punched a breaking ball over shortstop.

The kid knows how to handle the bat.

* Hyde has used Preston Palmeiro and Ryan Ripken at first base as extras from minor league camp.

Palmeiro pinch-ran for Chris Davis on Friday. Ripken replaced him yesterday. Palmeiro scorched a ball to right field that was caught and Ripken lined to left field.

Mike Yastrzemski, who has a famous grandfather, was in camp until the Orioles reassigned him yesterday.

I don't have anything else to add. I just think it's cool.