Notes on Ramirez, Alberto, Mancini and more (O's down 5-2)

CHICAGO - New Orioles reliever Shawn Armstrong, claimed off waivers yesterday from the Mariners, is flying to Chicago and should officially join the team Tuesday or Wednesday.

With a vacancy on the 25-man roster, the Orioles recalled right-hander Yefry Ramirez from Triple-A Norfolk and he's available to pitch tonight on three days' rest if needed.

"He's going to fill the long role for us," said manager Brandon Hyde. "He's been throwing the ball well in Norfolk. Excited to have him. We need the length out of our 'pen and he's going to fill that role."

Ramirez represents the latest shuffling on the roster and especially on the pitching staff. Jimmy Yacabonis was optioned yesterday morning, Alex Cobb returned to the injured list and Luis Ortiz was recalled and optioned on the same day. Branden Kline was recalled for the second time.

"I think it's part of it," Hyde said. "In our situation where we have a lot of movable pieces, we have a lot of opportunity in the bullpen. Looking for guys to step up and put up zeros when they go out there and have clean innings. And we're young, right? We're young and inexperienced.

"Our starting rotation hasn't given us a ton of length, so there's a lot of innings to be had out of the bullpen, so you're going to see probably a lot of movement. Kind of knew that going in. There's going to be a lot of movement in our bullpen."

The motion also happens in the outfield.

Infielder Stevie Wilkerson has played all three outfield spots and Hanser Alberto is making his first career start tonight in right field while Trey Mancini sits out another game.

"Because of this situation he's been taking some balls out in the outfield the last couple of weeks," Hyde said. "He's played out there before. Not a ton of experience, but not Stevie Wilkerson, either. We're throwing some guys in some spots where it's not their primary position, but that's the way this game is and Trey's just not able to go today, so Hanser's out there in right."

Mancini expects to be in the lineup Tuesday night. His right index finger is much better after being hit Saturday night as he swung at a pitch in the first inning.

"I think if this was a must-win game in late September he would probably be fighting his way to get in the lineup, but it's 40 degrees out, his finger's still really, really sore and hopefully he'll be back in there tomorrow or the next day."

Hyde said reliever Nate Karns is having his right forearm examined again today by a team physician. Karns returned to Baltimore after throwing an inning at Double-A Bowie and allowing two runs and two hits.

Karns' was removed from his injury rehab assignment.

"He's being reevaluated today from some of our medical people in Baltimore and waiting to see what the report say," Hyde said.

"I just don't think he's feeling right. We want to take a look at him, get him reevaluated and hopefully we get good news and he continues to pitch and stays on his rehab assignment and when he gets healthy be here."

Hyde is enjoying a homecoming in this series, except he's on the South Side after serving as a coach with the Cubs prior to the Orioles hiring him as manager.

"It felt good," he said. "I went home last night. I love Chicago. It's a great city. People are fantastic. I'm used to the North Side, but we played here every year, obviously.

"It's fun to come home, it's fun to sleep in your own bed and get up and go to my normal breakfast spot and have a similar routine when I was here. So it was awesome."

Update: Yonder Alonso hit a two-run homer off John Means in the second inning to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead.

Update II: Pedro Severino led off the third with a home run to cut the lead to 2-1.

Update III: Tim Anderson's two-run shot in the third gave Chicago a 4-1 lead.

Update IV: Chris Davis had a bloop single in the sixth to score Dwight Smith Jr. and reduce the lead to 4-2, but he was tagged out in a rundown.

Update V: Tanner Scott replaced Ramirez in the seventh and let an inherited runner score on a bases-loaded walk to expand the lead to 5-2.