Norfolk's Ron Johnson with big props for O's skipper (O's win 7-6)

NORFOLK, Va. - We've heard it before, but two managers that greatly like and respect each other are the Orioles' Buck Showalter and his Triple-A counterpart, Norfolk's Ron Johnson. Johnson is the winningest manager in Tides history with 422 victories in six seasons.

Showalter has often praised Johnson and appreciates his opinions on players over the years as he and the club decide which players to call up from the Tides.

"We speak a lot during the season and I value his opinion," Showalter said before today's game at Harbor Park. "I appreciate his sincere bluntness. He and Griff (pitching coach Mike Griffin) have been right a lot."

Showalter has called Johnson "the best Triple-A manager in baseball."

"That is quite a compliment," Johnson said. "If we are going to be a mutual admiration society, I've been in the game for 40 years and I've never been with anyone like him. I mean seriously. I've been with some really good managers. I was with Terry Francona over in Boston. Been with baseball people, but never with anyone close to Buck Showalter."

What makes Johnson say that?

"Everything. He cares. He cares about what is going on here with this team," Johnson said. "Buck makes you feel like, even though you are in Norfolk, he makes you feel like you are just an extension of the major league staff. I have never been in a situation like that. As a result, I don't want to disappoint this guy. We want to make sure we get this produce ready to go up and help our club."

As for today's game: The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the third, but now trail 2-1 in the fifth. Andrew Cashner got the start for Baltimore and Yefry Ramirez for the Tides.

Leadoff hitter Chris Davis drew a walk to start the game and advanced to third on a Manny Machado single. Jonathan Schoop grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to score a run for a 1-0 lead.

Cashner walked the first two batters in the last of the first, but fanned Austin Hays and Garabez Rosa to get out of the jam. He added two more strikeouts in the second.

But the Tides took the lead, scoring twice in the fourth. Rosa reached on a two-base error by third baseman Danny Valencia. An Andrew Susac double tied it 1-1 and he would later score for the lead on Sharlon Schoop's grounder.

Cashner was replaced by left-hander Luis Gonzalez with one out in the home fourth. Gonzalez pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam.

Cashner's line: 3 1/3 innings, four hits, two runs, one earned run, two walks, six strikeouts and one hit-batter. He threw 69 pitches, 43 for strikes.

Update: The Tides took a 3-1 lead in the fifth. Hays singled and scored on a two-base error by right fielder Colby Rasmus.

The O's tied it 3-3 in the top of the sixth when Jonathan Schoop unloaded a two-run homer to right center off Jayson Aquino. It was No. 7 of the spring for Schoop.

Update II: The Orioles scored three in the eighth to take a 6-3 lead, as Aderlin Rodriguez, Corban Joseph and Jake Ring drove in runs. In the bottom of the frame, Sharlon Schoop hit into a double play to score Daniel Fajardo and cut the O's lead to 6-4.

Update III: Rodriguez drove in another run in the top of the ninth to push the Orioles' lead to 7-4.

Update IV: The Tides put together a little rally in the bottom of the ninth to make this game close. Fajardo's two-run single made it a one-run game, but the Orioles win this one by a final score of 7-6.

Next stop is opening day in Baltimore.