Machado: "It's great to be back out there"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tyler Wilson and Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia each threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts today against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Wilson allowed two hits and Garcia permitted one.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning, when left-hander Mark Hendrickson gave up a run on two hits. The Orioles tied it in the eighth on Rey Navarro's single that scored David Lough, who reached on an error.

Update: Michael Almanzar homered in the top of the ninth to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed that the Orioles are working on a deal that would allow Suk-min Yoon to get out of his contract and pitch in South Korea.

Yoon, who's represented by the Boras Corporation, has two years left on the $5.575 million deal he signed in February 2013.

Manny Machado is back in the lineup tonight after going 0-for-3 yesterday in his first game since August.

"It's great to be back out there, great to get it rolling. It's fun to go get some ABs and make some plays," Machado said.

"I was just excited to be back on the field playing and trying to get back into that rhythm. It's going to take some time, but it's good we're out there playing and running around."

Asked what he missed the most while recovering from his second knee surgery, Machado said, "Just being on the field, being in the dugout, waiting for that anticipation to go back out onto the field. And get an at-bat. Those are the things I most miss."

As for the last time he was this excited to play baseball, Machado said, "I can't remember. I guess the day before I got hurt, or the day I got hurt. It was just overall a great feeling to get back out there and get in the groove of things and get out there rolling. I'm excited to get out there and get my at-bats and get where I need to be."

The next step for Machado is simple.

"Just keep playing baseball," he said. "Play every day and play every time I'm in the lineup."

It's a normal spring training for Machado, something he's been craving.

"Just like everybody else," he said. "I'm getting my at-bats and timing down, just getting my feet wet basically."

Machado is in the leadoff spot to get extra at-bats. He's been first in the lineup twice during the regular season, both in September 2013.

He won't be bunting tonight.

"No," he said grinning, "I've got to swing the bat."

Steve Johnson felt good during yesterday's bullpen session, which he requested rather than pitching in relief against the Tigers, and expects to get into his first game Friday in Dunedin or Saturday at home.

"With the bullpen thing, I wouldn't say I rushed, but I went right into the tracking, so I felt like if I could have one more work day and get off the mound one more time before getting into a game situation that it would be better for me," Johnson said.

"I just felt a little more comfortable getting one more day to work on my pitches off the mound before you go all-out in a game situation."

Johnson is taking today off.

"Everything is all right," he said. "I just felt more comfortable getting at least one more day off the mound and be ready."

Johnson could end up on a bus to Dunedin Friday morning.

"I'll take whatever," he said.