Elbow issues, roster moves and more (extra innings)

NEW YORK - Jonathan Schoop is hit on the elbow yesterday and remains in today's lineup. Chris Davis is hit on the elbow Friday night, plays yesterday and is scratched from today's lineup.

This is today's elbow news.

Schoop came out of yesterday's game, but he's batting seventh today against Yankees rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery.

"Where is hit him right above the elbow, it compresses the nerve and he had a lot of weakness there," said manager Buck Showalter. "I just didn't like it. He tried to hit in between and it just didn't work out, so we got him out of there. But he's going to be fine today."

Showalter will provide an update on Davis following the game. We're told that Davis wanted to play, but Showalter made the decision to remove him.

The outfield defense improves with Craig Gentry in right field. Trey Mancini replaces Davis at first base.

Showalter isn't ready to reveal his starter for Tuesday night in Boston, but it figures to be Alec Asher if he isn't needed today in relief. Logan Verrett can serve as the right-handed long man behind starter Wade Miley.

"Depends on how we get through the game today, but we have some options," Showalter said. "You can tell who it isn't. I'd rather not (broadcast it). You can probably figure out who our options are. None of the guys who just came here are options."

The Orioles also recalled left-hander Richard Bleier.

"We had a lot of options," Showalter said. "I really want to leave Chris Lee alone. He's starting to come into his own. He only had three days off after throwing 69 pitches. He's right where he needs to be. (Jesus) Liranzo is right where he needs to be. We'll leave him alone. Some of the 10-day stuff isn't up. (Gabriel) Ynoa is starting to pitch well. He actually pitched well last night. We want to leave him alone and get him going there.

"Logan has major league experience, as does Bleier, and we like both of them. And obviously, (Jayson) Aquino and (Vidal) Nuño were going to be down for a while."

In a perfect baseball world, the Orioles can leave their younger starters at the Triple-A level to continue their development.

"The need of the major league club will always (be first), but if there's a tiebreaker it will be what's best for their development, as well. Sometimes, coming up here is what's best for their development," Showalter said.

"We had some other options. I know Edwin Jackson is leaving (extended spring training) soon and he's pitching well. I think he will present himself as an option. And a guy like (Jimmy) Yacabonis is throwing the ball real well down there. The roster isn't an issue. We're trying to let those guys try to establish some things before we go get them, but we're going to take the best options. The roster doesn't figure too much into it. We're always going to have room."

The Orioles mainly view Jackson as a reliever, but the role is subject to change depending on how he's throwing and their needs.

"I know what I think, but we'll see where they are with starters and everything when he's ready to go," Showalter said. "He's close. They actually had to take him to the bullpen yesterday because he wasn't getting challenged as much as he probably needs to at that level."

Bleier said he didn't anticipate joining the Orioles. He was told about his promotion yesterday and flew into New York last night from Norfolk.

"I just don't really pay attention to those types of things," he said. "I just pitch where you're at, and hopefully things work out. Checking box scores and stuff like that, it's really tough to focus and get people out.

"As long as I'm here, I'd like to do whatever I can to help the team and whatever they want me to do, I'm willing to do."

Bleier and his Norfolk teammates keep tabs on the Orioles. The games are on the clubhouse televisions.

"I know they're playing really well," Bleier said. "They're playing good baseball. You see guys going up and down quite often in Norfolk. You see that aspect of it. You can't ignore it there because guys are there and then they're not. You see that there's been quite a bit of movement so far and the season's just started. I'm just trying to pitch and get people out regardless of where I am."

Bleier allowed only one earned run (three total), walked none and struck out 11 in nine innings with the Tides. He's pitched twice since coming off the disabled list following a hamstring injury.

"Just executing pitches," he said. "Really, that's what it comes down to, at least for me, just making pitches and keeping the ball in the park.

"Just being on the 40-man roster, it was assumed that I had a chance to be called up, just like anybody else on the roster or anybody else in Triple-A for that matter. I think with the experience I have, the last 10 years playing, be ready at any point to go and try and help the team if they need me to."

Dylan Bundy remains the starter for Monday night's series opener in Boston after the Orioles toyed with the idea of giving him an extra day of rest.

"The innings and stuff, that's not near the issue some people may perceive," Showalter said. "It's the stress and how he feels physically and the work days. With what Dylan's been through, he's pretty frank and honest with us. He doesn't want to go back there.

"I had a good conversation with Dylan yesterday about his last outing, what he felt, didn't feel. His last work day. I usually wait until after his work day."

Update: Matt Holliday homered with two outs in the first to give New York a 1-0 lead. Orioles pitchers have surrendered 10 homers in the series.

Update II: Adam Jones tied the game in the second inning with a two-out RBI single to right field, but the Yankes took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half on Chase Headley's RBI single after back-to-back one-out walks.

The Yankees loaded the bases with one out, but didn't pad their lead.

Update III: The Orioles scored three runs in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. They loaded the bases with no outs, and Mancini hit into a force to tie the game, Schoop followed with an RBI double and Gentry had an RBI grounder.

Wade Miley allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings, with five walks, six strikeouts and a home run. He threw 114 pitches, 61 for strikes.

Update IV: The Orioles blew another late lead, with Didi Gregorius' two-out, two-run single off Donnie Hart in the ninth inning tying the game.

Darren O'Day loaded the bases on a single and two walks. He was called for a balk with runners on first and second, leading to manager Buck Showalter's ejection.