After hurricane, O's will still hold instructional league (game update)

TORONTO - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said today that the team will still be able to hold their fall instructional league at their Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla.

It is been delayed by the impact from Hurricane Irma on Florida's Gulf Coast. Originally players were expected to begin arriving for that tomorrow. Now players and staff will head to Florida on Sunday and the first workout is set for Monday.

All things considered, the Orioles' facility in Sarasota came through the storm in decent shape.

"There were some uprooted trees and we lost some windscreens," Showalter said. "The hitting background on field four blew over. They are getting ready to re-do that whole field, so that's kind of nice.

"They had a lot of wind damage. Structurally they are in pretty good shape though. I think they said they are flying down for instructional league on Sunday. I know the Twins in Ft. Myers, their facility has kind of been taken over as headquarters for some of the rescue places and recovery teams.

"Our instructs obviously will be shortened a lot. We'll be down there before the other teams, the Red Sox and Twins will be awhile. The schedule (of games) will be greatly altered."

A new schedule of instructional league games has not yet been set.

The Orioles today re-instated outfielder Craig Gentry from the 10-day disabled list. He has been out with a fractured right middle finger which he injured attempting to bunt in a game on Sept. 1. Gentry can only pinch-run at this point and not play in the field or bat.

But he could provide a late-game weapon in a close game.

"He'll have to wear a mitt (on his hand). It will be league approved," Showalter said.

We wrote here earlier that the Orioles got good news today on catcher Welington Castillo, who took a foul ball to the groin last night. He was taken to a hospital Monday night but could be back sooner than it first appeared after he left the game. Castillo said earlier today this was not nearly as serious as when he went on the disabled after a similar injury May 30.

"He's available to do certain things. I would not catch him tonight. Our doctors don't want him catching tonight and we'll see with each day," Showalter said.

Jays get lead: Justin Smoak's RBI double provided Toronto with a 1-0 lead in the third tonight. Luke Maile singled to lead off the inning and scored on Smoak's two-out, two-bagger. He crushed a ball to deep right and right fielder Joey Rickard crashed into the wall trying to make the catch. Dylan Bundy gave up two long fly outs that preceeded Smoak's double. The Orioles didn't score in the first three against right-hander Joe Biagini. He needed just 26 pitches to get the first nine outs.

Same score: It is still 1-0 through six innings. Biagini is rolling at just 61 pitches and Bundy has fanned eight and is at 89.