It's Gonzalez vs. Vargas tonight

The Orioles are facing a left-hander tonight, the Angels' Jason Vargas, which could put Nate McLouth back on the bench. Manager Buck Showalter is inclined to go with his right-handed lineup, which includes Nolan Reimold in left field and Steve Pearce as the designated hitter. Reimold is 3-for-9 with a double and home run against Vargas. McLouth is 1-for-2 with an RBI. Pearce has never faced him. The Orioles might want to try something different, since Vargas has posted a 2.03 ERA against them in six career starts. Though he's lost two of three decisions, he's allowed nine earned runs, walked nine and struck out 23 in 40 innings. This season, Vargas is 0-3 with a 4.85 ERA in five starts, with 40 hits allowed in 29 2/3 innings. However, he gave up only two runs in eight innings against the Mariners in his last outing - both on home runs - and he's registered back-to-back quality starts. Matt Wieters is 5-for-14 with a double against Vargas. Mark Trumbo has homered and walked twice in three plate appearances against Miguel Gonzalez, who takes the ball tonight for the Orioles. Gonzalez is making his second career start against the Angels. His first major league start came against them on June 6, and he responded by holding them to one run and three hits in seven innings. There were many layers to that story. Gonzalez was facing the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He wore a glove given to him by close friend and former Angels minor league teammate Nick Adenhart, who was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver on April 9, 2009 after making his first start of the season. Notes: The Orioles have named Single-A Delmarva first baseman Christian Walker as their minor league Player of the Month for April. Walker, a fourth-round pick in the 2012 First-Year Player draft out of South Carolina, batted .360 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. He hit safely in 18 of 24 games and had 11 multi-hit games. Walker, 22, currently ranks fifth in the South Atlantic League in batting average (.351) and fifth in the league in on-base percentage (.431). Among Orioles minor leaguers, Walker ranks first in batting average (.351), hits (33) and on-base percentage (.431). Single-A Frederick's Tim Berry was named the Orioles' minor league Pitcher of the Month for April. Berry is 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA in five starts, with four walks and 35 strikeouts in 28 innings. Triple-A Norfolk now lists its starter for the next five games as Jair Jurrjens, Zach Britton, Josh Stinson, Steve Johnson and Jake Arrieta. Freddy Garcia will start Saturday for the Orioles.



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