Oliver Drake talks about role change from closer to multi-inning reliever

Right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake returned to the Orioles on Sunday. This time he comes back to the team after a role change at Triple-A Norfolk.

Before he joined the Orioles for four games in June, Drake was a one-inning closer for the Tides and he went 10-for-12 in save chances. When he went back on June 30, he began to pitch longer outings and earlier in the game.

"It was a little different," Drake said of the change. "Before I was coming in and knowing I was done after one inning. Now I knew I would be pitching another inning. It was fun, a different challenge."

Drake didn't pitch more than an inning once in 27 relief outings before his callup to the Orioles on June 21. After he went back to Norfolk, he threw more than an inning 16 times in 20 games, stretching his pitch count and throwing two innings five times in his last 11 games.

I asked Drake if a pitcher who relies heavily on a split-finger fastball had to be more expansive with his pitch variety when facing more batters per outing.

"No, I mean I just tried to do the same thing," Drake said. "Be efficient, attack the zone and get ahead. That makes going multiple innings a lot of easier."

Drake pitched in four games in June for the Orioles, not allowing a run in his first two games and 3 1/3 innings. Then he gave up six runs in his last two games and 2 1/3 innings.

In 47 games this season at Triple-A he is 1-4 with a 2.72 ERA for the Tides. Over 56 1/3 innings he gave up 44 hits with 25 walks and 79 strikeouts. International League batters hit just .215 off him and lefty batters just .171.

Drake said each trip to the majors is special and each time he gets a call up it is a little bit of a smoother process. Also he said the veterans on the Orioles have been very helpful to him.

"A little bit (easier), yeah," Drake said. "Especially coming in and being more familiar with the guys. They are all great in this clubhouse and now is an exciting time to be up here. Gets a little more comfortable, but you still have to go out and there and perform.

"For the younger guys in the 'pen, the veterans are really helpful. You can go to them for anything. They've had a lot of experience and a lot of success. They even know what it is like to have struggles up here and how to get over those. That is a real valuable thing. When you get called up, they make you feel like a real part of the 'pen."

A 43rd-round draft pick in 2008 out of the Naval Academy, Drake is like a lot of players in that he's had plenty of success on the farm. Now he wants to show he can do it at the major league level.

"Yeah, having major league success is the goal for everyone," Drake said. "Just need to be more consistent. Getting ahead and repeating performances. You can't have one good outing and then a bad one, you have to be consistent at this level. I feel confident I can get the job done."