Schoop on his rookie year, Yastrzemski hits for the cycle on the farm

He won't turn 23 until October and is going through some on-the-job training at the major league level.

Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop went 3-for-8 in yesterday's doubleheader. It was the kid's latest chance to learn and grow as a big leaguer.

What has this rookie year been like for him?

"Learning experience. Some ups and downs," Schoop said during the O's recent homestand. "But sometimes when you are down, you learn more. The team is winning and I've had some big hits. All that matters is winning.

"I appreciate Buck (Showalter) and Dan Duquette and all the coaches for giving me a chance. They give me a lot of reps. The more you play the more comfortable you feel."

Schoop recently put together three straight multi-hit games, his longest stretch of the year.

His teammates are supporting him as he tries to learn how to hit big league pitching.

"Mentally, this game is tough," he said. "When things don't go your way, you have to stay strong. The guys give me compliments and confidence. They'll remind me I'm just 22, still young. Just need experience. They've taught me a lot of things and been really, really good to me.

"This game can be more mental than physical. But if your teammates are doing good and you're winning, everything is better. You can always do something to help your team win."

That includes playing solid defense at second base, as the Orioles lead the majors in double plays and Schoop has teamed with J.J. Hardy to form a solid 1-2 punch up the middle.

"He's really good," Schoop said of Hardy. "We take ground balls and talk every day. That is how you get better, get close to that person. Helps you communicate better."

Schoop is now batting .321 (9-for-28) over his last seven games. In 73 games this season, he is batting .225 with 10 doubles, six homers and 21 RBIs. He's been a free swinger, with just seven walks to 59 strikeouts.

Schoop knows there are times he could work the count better, but he also knows there are times he can do damage jumping on an elevated first-pitch fastball.

"I think I can improve with everything," he said. "Sometimes I need to get more pitches to hit. Sometimes I've caught myself swinging at almost everything. There are some pitches you have to lay off.

"But for me, I'm not often the type of hitter to work the count. If you get a fastball up or something up in the zone, I'm swinging at it and trying to do damage. It also depends on the situation. Sometimes you do work the count. The more at-bats I get and more experience, I'll get better with that.

"Since the minor leagues, I was that type of hitter. Looking for a first-pitch fastball to ambush up in the zone. But it depends on the situation, too."

In summing up his first year in the majors, Schoop said it's been great, but he can think of a way it could get even better.

"Last year, I got a taste of it, but this year I'm playing almost every day. It's great. It's the big leagues. It's fun, but more fun when you are winning. I have great teammates and play against the best of the best. I love it and want to do as well as I can. Want to win. The most fun would be playing playoff baseball in October," he said.

Minors matters: Single-A Frederick outfielder Mike Yastrzemski hit for the cycle last night as the Keys won 17-3 at Lynchburg. He is the first Key to hit for the cycle since Mike Fiorentino against Winston-Salem on May 2, 2005.

Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, singled in the first, had a two-run double in the second, grounded out in the fourth, hit a two-run homer in the fifth and had an RBI double in the seventh.

He had an 0-2 count when he batted in the ninth and this happened:

That is the call from Geoff Arnold on Keys radio. Yaz finished 5-for-6 with three runs and five RBIs. In 15 games with Frederick since moving up from Single-A Delmarva, Yaz is batting .321 with a homer, 12 RBIs a .482 slugging percentage and .861 OPS.

Short-season Single-A Aberdeen also had a big night on the farm Saturday night, winning 18-2 at Brooklyn. Riley Palmer, the Orioles' 31st round draft pick this year, went 5-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs. Aberdeen had 18 hits and went 10-for-25 with runners in scoring position.