Game update and more notes (O's down 1-0)

CHICAGO - Nick Markakis flied to left field in the top of the first inning today, leaving him hitless in his last 17 at-bats.

"That's one I don't think about a whole lot," said manager Buck Showalter. "I'm sure some of those were at 'ems, too."

Former Oriole Tsuyoshi Wada threw 13 pitches in a scoreless first inning. Adam Jones drew his 16th walk of the season.

Wada retired the side in order in the second.

Miguel Gonzalez threw 16 pitches in the first while retiring the Cubs in order. He struck out two and made a terrific play to glove Chris Coghlan's bouncer up the middle.

Gonzalez made the grab without seeing the ball. He couldn't hide the smile on his face.

Nelson Cruz leads the majors with 34 home runs this season after Chris Davis led with 53 in 2013. According to STATS, the Orioles would become only the fourth team since 1920 to have two different players win the home run title in back-to-back seasons. The others were the 1936-37 Yankees (Lou Gehrig, 49; Joe DiMaggio, 46), the 1987-88 Athletics (Mark McGwire, 49; Jose Canseco, 42) and the 1993-94 Giants (Barry Bonds, 46; Matt Williams, 43).

Earlier today, the Orioles designated infielder Cord Phelps for assignment to create room for starter Miguel Gonzalez on the 25-man roster. Since he has a prior outright, Phelps can decline an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elect free agency if he clears waivers.

"It's a win-win for him in a lot of ways," Showalter said. "He's going to end up in the big leagues here shortly or hopefully come back to the team that likes what he brings and appreciates it.

"He's going to have a decision to make if he gets through that process."

Showalter will send some minor leaguers to Sarasota again next month to keep them ready in case the Orioles add them to the expanded roster. Phelps likely would be in that group if he remains in the organization.

The Orioles will have three bench players on Monday if they stay with the current roster.

"You know, this could be a one-day thing," Showalter said. "We could bring a position player back real quick. I think their last game is on the first of September, so we're good. We've got some coverage down there."

Ubaldo Jimenez said he doesn't know when he'll be available to pitch again after working four innings yesterday in his first relief appearance since Sept. 26, 2006.

Jimenez had plenty of time to get ready following the rain delay. In some ways, it felt like a start despite entering the game in the bottom of the third inning.

"It's pretty much the same because I had time to get loose, I had time to stretch and warm up, so I was able to do my job," he said.

"Before they told me, I was guessing. It was only the second inning, so they needed me to go out there because I'm pretty much cleared to throw 60, 70, whatever pitches they needed me to.

"I felt good. I was able to throw strikes. I went four innings and made sure no other guys had to pitch, so that was good."

Jimenez clearly would prefer to start, but he's trying to make the best of his new situation.

"Being with guys is fun, but being in the bullpen is kind of different because you have to wait for such a long time," he said. "You never know when you're going to be able to pitch. But I'm definitely (happy) to be able to be there for the bullpen."

Update: The Orioles don't have a hit through five innings. The only baserunner is Jones, who walked in the first.

Wada has retired 13 in a row.

Gonzalez took a one-hit shutout into the fifth, but Arismendy Alcantara homered with one out to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. Matt Szcur singled with two outs, but Wada lined to short.