Game update and Norris on outing (O's lose 8-2)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Cardinals 8, Orioles 2

Recap: Former Oriole Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer off Bud Norris in the bottom of the third inning to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. Norris was charged with three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings, with three walks, a strikeout and a hit batter. He threw 54 pitches, 28 for strikes. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the first on a walk, infield hit and hit batter, but Norris escaped the jam. A leadoff single, passed ball and walk brought more trouble in the second, but Norris got a 5-4-3 double play and grounder. Brad Brach allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings. Former Orioles farmhands Michael Ohlman and Ty Kelly had a double and single, respectively, off Dylan Bundy in the fifth to increase the lead to 5-1. Bundy retired the side in order in the sixth. Henry Urrutia doubled in the seventh and later scored on Steve Clevenger's grounder. Mark Hendrickson was charged with three runs. Bobby Bundy retired the last two batters, pitching on the same day as his younger brother.

Need to know: Everth Cabrera, starting at shortstop today, ranged up the middle in the first inning to field Jason Heyward's ground ball, but he flipped the ball wide of the bag on the attempted force. Norris hit Reynolds in the first. Norris mentioned after the game that his back tightened up after his first start, but he felt great today. Nolan Reimold's walk in the first was his fourth in seven games. Catcher J.P. Arencibia has been charged with two passed balls this spring. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop made two fine plays in the field, turning a double play with a strong throw in the second and making a sliding stop and throw to Norris covering the bag to retire Jason Heyward in the third. Bobby Bundy's fastball was 90-92 mph.

On deck: Friday, at Blue Jays in Dunedin, 1:05 p.m.
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JUPITER, Fla. - The Orioles got on the board today in the top of the seventh on Henry Urrutia's leadoff double and Steve Clevenger's RBI grounder with one out.

Mark Hendrickson was charged with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, as the Cardinals expanded their lead to 8-2. The last run scored on Tommy Pham's sacrifice fly off Bobby Bundy, who's younger brother, Dylan, pitched earlier today.

Former Orioles farmhand Michael Ohlman had an RBI grounder off Hendrickson.

Dylan Bundy retired the Cardinals in order in the sixth after allowing a run in the fifth on a double by Ohlman and an RBI single by Ty Kelly, another former Orioles minor leaguer.

Bud Norris sounded pleased with today's outing despite allowing Mark Reynolds' three-run homer in the third.

"I felt great," he said. "That's the key for me is getting out of there and just staying healthy. It's good to have some ups and downs, which I'm pretty happy about. Felt a little shaky from the windup. That's something I'm going to go work on in the next couple, but I felt good from the stretch.

"Slider was pretty good today. I threw some really good changeups. Fastball command obviously is something I need a lot more work on, but that's something we get out of camp. But coming out of there healthy was the No. 1 key for me again."

Norris threw 54 pitches, 28 for strikes, and escaped jams in the first two innings.

"Trying to work the pitch count, trying to work hitters, but, yeah, I was very happy to get my pitch count up and to leave the game on a high note," Norris said. "I felt good the whole time and that's good to have the fastball behind me and my body feel good, my back feel good. I was happy with that.

"It was good to work some counts, get in some deep counts, get the double play bases loaded, stuff like that. Just to kind of compete and get back out there. It's good to kind of get the train going again, and like I said, I'm happy with the results, to get off the mound healthy."

Norris thought he was much better today than his debut against the Red Sox, when he allowed four runs and four hits in one inning.

"I really do, I really do," he said. "I felt like I was a deer in the headlights a little bit last time, just getting back out there, and guys were jumping all over first-pitch fastballs. I got to mix some early breaking balls into some counts, and some changeups, too, so that's part of the game.

"It's hard to get comfortable. A lot of these guys are grinding for spots and they're trying to get some hits, so they're swinging at fastballs, which is fine, but I was really happy with the results and the health was there, too."

Norris thought he needed to slow down after his first outing. And not just his delivery.

"Mentally, that's what it is, that mental game is to truly slow it down one pitch at a time," he said. "It was nice to work with J.P. (Arencibia). It was my first time. He looked good out there.

"I tried to slow the game down mentally and physically and mechanically I felt better from the stretch, too. Get in the rhythm and get in the flow. I'm really just happy to get out of there healthy."

The Orioles will try to get Norris through at least four innings in his next start, which could be Tuesday against the Twins in Sarasota.

"We're just building up the pitch count," he said. "It's something me and (Dave) Wallace really talked about. He was really wanting to get to 50 today and make sure I felt good because I really didn't feel good after my last one. My back and stuff kinda flared up.

"I feel good, really good now, so I'm hoping the next day it progresses well and get another side in and get ready to go Tuesday."

Norris drove to Jupiter last night with Dylan Bundy, avoiding the long ride this morning before the game.

"Bundy and I crashed together and hung out," Norris said. "He got an earful, I'm sure. I got some good sleep."