Orioles make three cuts (game update and Gonzalez quotes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned three players to minor league camp - pitcher Eddie Gamboa, infielder Cord Phelps and outfielder Julio Borbon. The moves leave the Orioles with 50 players in camp, including 12 non-roster invitees. Gamboa didn't allow a run in 4 2/3 innings over five appearances. He walked one and struck out six. The Orioles want to stretch out Gamboa and prepare him to start at one of the affiliates this season. He could be assigned to Double-A Bowie, depending on future cuts. The rotation at Triple-A Norfolk could be crowded. Borbon was chosen by the Orioles in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. As for today's game, Brian Matusz retired the Red Sox in order in the fourth, striking out Brock Holt to end the inning. Miguel Gonzalez was charged with two runs and four hits in three innings, with one walk and no strikeouts. He threw 45 pitches, 32 for strikes, by my unofficial count. The Orioles have loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth on three straight walks. Update: The Orioles drew four straight one-out walks in the bottom of the fourth - three by Red Sox starter Allen Webster and one by reliever Alex Wilson - and a wild pitch tied the game. Matt Wieters' walk forced in the first run. Matusz has retired all six batters faced with three strikeouts. He's thrown 30 pitches, 18 for strikes. He looks real good. Gonzalez talked about today's outing, his first since taking a line drive off his left shin Friday against the Phillies. "I thought it was going to be worse. Having to get hit last time and being able to be under control this time was fun to be out there again," he said. "No issues. I felt good throughout all three innings. All I wanted was to be out there and try to throw 45 to 50 pitches and that's what I did. "We've got a couple more weeks, but I always wanted to be out there and be able to do more, get my innings up. I think that's important to me right now. Other than that, it felt good." Gonzalez cleared a mental hurdle by getting back on the mound after being hit. "That's the toughest thing to be a pitcher," he said. "It's the closest place from everyone else. You try not to think about it when you're out there. You just focus on your pitches and give your team a chance to win." Gonzalez was sidelined by back spasms earlier in camp. It's been a rough spring. "It's been a little different than other years, but I'm not worried about it," he said. "I just try to stay healthy. That's the most important thing. I know I had the back spasms and then I got hit by a ball, but if I just stay within God, everything will be fine." Brock Holt homered on a two-seam fastball leading off the third. "It was a little up," Gonzalez said. "They're going to be out there swinging in spring training, they're going to try to get you the first couple pitches. I've just got to keep working down. That's about it."