Showalter on Alvarez: "He's a good fit for us" (O's, Yankees tie 4-4)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 4, Yankees 4

Recap: Adam Jones hit his first spring home run, an opposite-field shot in the first inning. Hyun Soo Kim was hit by a Kyle Haynes pitch in the fourth, the first time he reached base in 23 plate appearances. He reached on an RBI infield single with the bases loaded in the seventh, making him 1-for-24. Steve Tolleson tied the game in the seventh with a two-run single. Tyler Wilson allowed two runs and five hits in three innings, with no walks and two strikeouts. Both runs scored in the first. Dylan Bundy allowed two runs on four hits in the fifth inning. Brad Brach worked two scoreless innings. Tanner Scott, 21, struck out the side in the eighth on 98 mph fastballs. He hit 100 mph twice in the frame. Oliver Drake retired the side in the ninth and the game ended in a tie.

Need to know: Kim also grounded out and lined to center field. J.J. Hardy had two hits. Matt Wieters reached on a bunt single to third base. That's one way to combat the shift. Chris Davis singled and later was picked off second base by catcher Carlos Corporan. Wilson threw 46 pitches, 34 for strikes, over three innings. Joey Rickard batted for the first time in the seventh and singled, as the Rule 5 pick continues to impress. Starlin Castro was 3-for-3 with three RBIs through the fifth. Today's attendance: 7,588, the third sellout of the spring.

On deck: Friday, vs. Yankees in Tampa, 1:05 p.m.
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SARASOTA, Fla. - Hyun Soo Kim reached base today for the first time in 23 plate appearances with the Orioles.

He got hit by a pitch.

Hey, it counts.

Kim was drilled by Yankees reliever Kyle Haynes with two outs in the fourth inning, turning away from the ball but unable to avoid it. J.J. Hardy walked and Jonathan Schoop reached on an error, but L.J. Hoes lined to right field.

Kim also has grounded to second and lined to center field, making him 0-for-23 this spring. He smoked the ball in the sixth inning, but right at the center fielder.

The Yankees lead 4-1 after scoring twice off Dylan Bundy in the fifth. Bundy allowed four hits, including Starlin Castro's two-run single. Castro is 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

Brad Brach is working multiple innings today. He retired the side in order in the sixth and came back out for the seventh.

Tyler Wilson seemed happy with his outing today, allowing two runs in the first and none over the next two innings. He threw 46 pitches, 34 for strikes.

"I felt good," he said. "Physically, I felt strong, felt like I commanded the zone really well, other than two-strike pitches. That's probably the biggest takeaway for me today. I did a good job of getting ahead of guys and executing pitches early in the count, but I just didn't finish well. Threw some breaking balls and left some balls in the zone with two strikes that I had a chance to finish guys and get out of the inning, especially in the first inning. Three of those guys I was ahead of and ended up giving up hits on balls in the zone, so I've got to do a better job of finishing guys."

Though Wilson allowed two runs in the first, he retired three batters in a row after the first three Yankees reached against him.

"Getting out of that first inning is great in general, whether that would have been in the second or third inning or in the first inning," he said. "Obviously, it's not how you draw it up to start a game, three straight hits, but like I said, that's a byproduct of not executing two-strike pitches, so I'll take that and move forward, take that into my skill work and bullpens.

"I was really excited about being able to pitch out of that jam. They lead off the game with three hits, and to kind of manage the game with guys on second and third with nobody out and be able to trade out runs rather than give up the big inning, then settle back in and throw up some zeroes and keep our team in the game, that's big for me. Obviously, I'd like to start better and set a tone a little bit better for the game, but that's not always going to be the case."

Wilson was making his second start and third appearance of the spring.

"Any time you can get on the mound, it's great," he said. "If it's me coming out of the 'pen or starting, I'm just thankful to be able to get game reps because those are really invaluable, especially in the spring going into the season. It's important to be able to get into the two-strike counts, be able to throw off-speed pitches behind in the count. No matter how many times you simulate that in the bullpen, getting a hitter's response to a pitch is really the most valuable part of spring training."

Here are some leftovers from the Pedro Alvarez press conference:

"We had a lot of players that were leaving the club last year, so we knew we had a lot of work to do in the offseason," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "We were able to bring back some of the players that did good work for us and we were able to bring in some other players like Pedro.

"I believe Pedro will be comfortable in Baltimore when he hits one out to left-center field that would have been caught in Pittsburgh. That's when he'll feel at home at Camden Yards. He's got the power to hit a lot of balls to left field. The park is a lot more hitter-friendly than the park, the home park he's been playing at. So I think it's a good fit for everybody and we are looking forward to having him on the club. "

Third base coach Bobby Dickerson, who doubles as infield instructor, worked with Alvarez earlier today on the half-field. Can the Orioles improve Alvarez's defense?

"I think that is wrong to think that initially because Pittsburgh's got great infield and defense and hitting coaches that work, too, and they've got all the other stuff," Showalter said. "This is more about just getting your feet wet, getting a sweat going, getting to know your players. It wasn't like, 'Here's what you've got to be doing, here's what you've got to do now, we're smarter than everybody else.'

"That's ridiculous. Anybody who thinks they're that smart. It's like Mark Trumbo. He's been with four clubs. He's going to find out. We're going to embrace what they do well. It doesn't keep us from trying. Keep in mind this guy was the second pick in the country and if he doesn't hit 60 home runs, there was something wrong, he was supposed to lead us out of the ... and all of a sudden, he's over here with a bunch of guys and nobody cares what he came into.

"There's a nice window of opportunity for this guy. There's nothing wrong with the scenery he left. He's a good fit for us."

The Orioles have spent about $242 million on free agents this winter. We had to adjust the math based on Yovani Gallardo's restructured deal and Dexter Fowler's detour to Arizona.

"What really didn't get mentioned how nails Mr. (Peter) Angelos has been this offseason," Showalter said. "Every time we talked about something, he said, 'Go do it.' You look at all the things we did, and not that it surprises me, it's a great confidence that he's showing in our players and our staff and our organization that he (listens) when we tell him what we might need."

An increased payroll isn't "a prerequisite," Showalter said. He isn't fighting it, of course, but he also wasn't demanding it.

"Knowing Mr. Angelos and his competitive fire, it wouldn't surprise me at all," Showalter said. "He loves the Orioles, he loves the city and loves when the Orioles are good and he's trying to help us deliver something everybody in Baltimore and our fans will be proud of, and Pedro can help us do that."

Update: Kim reached on an infield hit with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, making him 1-for-24 this spring. The crowd erupted.

Kim sent a bouncer to deep short and beat the throw from Jorge Mateo. He was removed for a pinch-runner.

Steve Tolleson followed with a two-run single to tie the game. Christian Walker flied to the left field fence to end the inning.