O's Richard Bleier continued his strong season last night

Orioles lefty reliever Richard Bleier picked up his first major league win on May 16 at Detroit. Last night he picked up his second as the Orioles beat Texas 3-1.

Entering to pitch the top of the seventh of a 1-1 game, Bleier hit Carlos Gomez, the first batter he faced. But then he got a fly out and a double-play grounder. When the Orioles scored twice in the last of the seventh and held the lead, the 30-year-old Bleier picked up his second win in his 50th major league game.

Acquired on Feb. 21 from the Yankees for a player to be named later or cash, Bleier has been some addition for the Orioles. He showed up as a part of the cast of the Triple-A-Norfolk-to-Baltimore shuttle. Unlike most of his friends on that ride, he stayed here. He is 2-1 with a 1.34 ERA over 27 games.

Since May 22, Bleier has a 0.36 ERA, allowing one earned run over 25 1/3 innings.

"Personally, it has been exciting," he said of his solid pitching for the Orioles. "I always knew I could do it, and to actually throw well has been exciting. It doesn't mean as much in the long run if the team is not winning, though."

Recently Bleier even showed he could be stretched out a bit. July 9 at Minnesota he threw 2 2/3 on 34 pitches. Friday night against the Cubs he pitched 2 1/3 on 26 pitches.

Are they any adjustments he had to make pitching longer outings?

"I think you just have to be a little more cautious about facing guys multiple times in a game," he said. "Just really remembering how you approached their at-bat the first time around and take that information into their second at-bat. But, other than that, it is just making pitches."

The O's rotation has been so shaky that Bleier's longer outings had some wondering if he could stretch out further and start for the Orioles. Maybe he could, but for now the Orioles seem content with a lefty reliever who gets out both left-handed and right-handed hitters, can pitch longer than one inning and recuperates quickly between outings. If that changed and they approach Bleier to start, he'd be up for it.

"Whatever role they want me in. Whether it is pitching early in games or pitching later in a game in a crucial situation. I started in the minor leagues. Whatever they want me to do, I'll do. It is about whatever I can do to help the team. I think I don't have, really, a defined role. I'm ready to pitch whenever and I embrace any opportunity," he said.

With pitchers like Zach Britton and Darren O'Day no longer on the disabled list, Bleier is pitching in a bullpen back to full strength. He's holding his own with his teammates, including some who have been All-Stars. But he said he looks around some days and maybe gets a bit star-struck himself.

"It is a sight to see how these guys warm up and approach their business. How they pitch in the games. I almost feel like a fan just watching them work and do their thing," he said.