Game update and more Miranda (Davis homers twice, O's win 5-4)

Ubaldo Jimenez made fast work of the Astros in the top of the first inning tonight, retiring the side on only six pitches following a rain delay of 1 hour, 11 minutes.

It wasn't that easy in the second inning. Jimenez allowed one run on three hits, including Chris Carter's RBI double that followed singles by Evan Gattis and Colby Rasmus. However, Jimenez stranded two runners in scoring position with a strikeout and foul pop.

Rasmus is 11-for-28 lifetime against Jimenez.

Jimmy Paredes reached on an infield hit in the first inning to raise his average to .353.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette provided updates on Brian Matusz's hearing, Dylan Bundy's MRI and the decision to designate outfielder Alejandro De Aza for assignment.

Let's start with Matusz, who's appealing his eight-game suspension:

"We haven't heard from the league on the trial date, the hearing date," Duquette said. "I thought we might hear from the league yesterday, but we haven't heard, so I'm sure we'll hear from them as soon as they get to it."

Bundy had an MRI today on his right shoulder.

"Dylan Bundy saw the doctor and he has some tendinitis in his right shoulder, so he's been directed to rest. Anti-inflammatories were prescribed," Duquette said.

De Aza came off the 25-man roster to make room for infielder Ryan Flaherty.

"We designated De Aza today. We have some depth on our left-handed hitting side of the roster, and we're going to see if his contract has value with some of the other clubs. There's a couple of clubs that are interested in him," Duquette said.

Asked whether he's confident that the Orioles can swing a deal, Duquette smiled and said, "There's a couple of clubs that are interested in him. We'll see. I think he'll be able to land a major league job."

Do the Orioles have concerns about their corner outfielders?

"I think our overall balance depends on each player contributing," he said. "When one piece of the puzzle doesn't fit quite the way that you want it to, that affects some of the other pieces of the puzzle, so it's important to get that balance back to our lineup so that we can score runs at a reasonable rate so we can win ballgames.

"It's like a stack of dominos. If the foundation, the base, is not there, then some of the dominos fall. So you've got to have the balance both left- and right-handed and you've got to have a number of players contributing up and down the lineup to score the runs required to be competitive."

Duquette was asked whether today's roster move provides a warning to other vererans who are underachieving.

"The thing is, you try to evaluate your team and give everybody an opportunity, so we're two months into the season, almost two full months into the season, and we're a little bit past the quarter pole in the race," Duquette said. "Sometimes, it takes the veteran players a little bit longer to come around, but you've got to have a foundation for your team where the players can contribute day in and day out. We've been able to add some depth in the organization and now we're going to see some of those players given an opportunity to help the team."

Cuban left-hander Ariel Miranda, 26, met with reporters in the back of the press box.

"He's got a good fastball, nice delivery," Duquette said. "He's very athletic and he has a slider and a forkball. We're going to send him to Florida to get in shape and then we'll send him to one of our minor league teams, either Frederick or Bowie so he can get his career started. But he's got good experience, good stuff and all the ingredients to be a very capable major league pitcher.

"He has good experience and he has good pitches, so we're hoping that he can help us maybe later this year or sometime next year. But he's got a lot of really good attributes and experience to be a helpful major league pitcher soon."

Speaking through his interpreter, Miranda said it's a "dream come true for any Cuban baseball player to sign a professional contract."

"With a major league organziation like the Orioles, it's a dream come true for me," he said.

"I was told that agents and advisers that the Orioles have one of the best pitching coaches in the business and also a great minor league system. For me, it will be a great opportunity to play and help the major league team as soon as possible."

Miranda last pitched in early 2014. He's been working out in the Dominican Republic and the United States, throwing bullpens and live batting practice.

"I'm going to be ready to contribute to a team as soon as possible," he said.

Miranda left Cuba in July 2014 and came to the U.S. in March 2015. He's prepared to make some tough adjustments.

"The language barrier is going to play a factor," he said. "The baseball in the States is completely different to Cuba in terms of being a professional, so that's going to be my main goal, learn to be a professional as soon as possible and work hard."

Seeing Camden Yards for the first time overwhelmed Miranda.

"It's a big impact, completely different of what I'm accustomed to seeing before," he said. "I can feel the environment and how the people get into the game with the Orioles."

Asked to compare himself to a pitcher that he's seen in the majors, Miranda replied, "I like the CC Sabathia stuff, even though I consider myself more athletic than CC at this point."

Update: The offense has perked up, getting back-to-back home runs from Chris Davis and Steve Pearce in a four-run fourth that gave the Orioles a 4-1 lead.

Davis homered onto the flag court for his first homer since May 11. The Orioles went back-to-back for the first time since Nick Markakis and Alejandro De Aza on Sept. 25, 2014.

Paredes led off with his career-high ninth double, Adam Jones singled and they executed a double steal. Paredes was the first Oriole to steal home since Jones on Aug. 28, 2014.

Jimenez has registered two six-pitch innings tonight, leaving his count at 50 over five innings.

Update II: The Astros are known for scoring late and it happened again tonight. Evan Gattis hit a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh after Preston Tucker's RBI grounder.

George Springer reached on a broken-bat infield hit with one out to start the rally, J.J. Hardy staying back on the ball and throwing late after Manny Machado gave up on it. The Orioles also failed to turn a double play on Tucker's grounder.

Jimenez has allowed a season-high 10 hits in seven innings. He's thrown 82 pitches.

And now Brad Brach has replaced Jimenez.

Update III: The Astros brought in left-hander Tony Sipp to face Davis with one out in the eighth, and Davis homered on the first pitch to give the Orioles a 5-4 lead.

Davis has eight career multi-homer games.

Update IV: Game over. Zach Britton recorded his 12th save and the Orioles defeated the Astros 5-4.

Brach improved to 10-1 in two seasons with the Orioles, who are 21-23 going into Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox.