Britton tunes up for Orioles return

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

August 16, 2011, 4:42pm

Comments

Pitcher Zach Britton, on the disabled list with a strained left shoulder, allowed one run over five innings in tonight's start for Triple-A Norfolk. Britton gave up three hits to Charlotte, walked one and struck out three. He threw 62 pitches, 39 for strikes, before left-hander Mark Hendrickson replaced him in the top of the sixth. Hendrickson promptly surrendered back-to-back home runs that increased Charlotte's lead to 4-0. Britton fell behind, 1-0, in the first on Dallas McPherson's two-out single. Andrew Garcia tripled with one out in the second, but Britton used a strikeout and ground ball to escape the jam. Lastings Milledge singled with one out in the fourth, but Gookie Dawkins grounded into a double play. Britton is eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday and could rejoin the Orioles' rotation in Anaheim. The Orioles had Britton throw an extra bullpen session at Camden Yards on Sunday before sending him to Norfolk for an injury-rehab start. Also, Single-A Frederick shortstop Manny Machado was ejected from tonight's game after slamming his batting helmet to the ground, according to a tweet from the club.