Arrieta still pitching for Norfolk (updated)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

May 25, 2010, 9:01am

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Jake Arrieta has returned to the mound for his third inning today at Triple-A Norfolk. He's thrown 42 pitches through the second. It doesn't appear that the Orioles will purchase Arrieta's contract and give him the ball on Saturday. He would be working on short rest, so Tides manager Gary Allenson would have needed to restrict his pitch count today. Chris Tillman is the overwhelming favorite if the Orioles move David Hernandez to the bullpen. As I posted last night, Tillman has allowed one run and 11 hits in his last two starts covering 13 innings, with three walks and 11 strikeouts. Over his last seven starts, Tillman has allowed 11 earned runs and 38 hits over 48 innings, with eight walks and 37 strikeouts. Tillman would be working on normal rest Saturday. He's also on the 40-man roster, which is a convenience. Arrieta has allowed three hits, walked a batter and struck out three today, lowering his ERA to 1.86. Update: Arrieta has allowed one run and five hits in five innings against Rochester, which broke a scoreless tie with two outs in the fifth. He's walked two and struck out four. He's also thrown 86 pitches, 53 for strikes.