Showalter on Jones, Hays, Hardy and Ynoa (O's down 4-2)

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter decided to rest Adam Jones tonight. Or more specifically, the center fielder's legs.

Austin Hays is playing center field in his first major league start. Jones is expected back in the lineup on Saturday afternoon.

"The turf bit him pretty good over in Toronto, and the couple pickoff plays at second that kind of made him wince a little bit," Showalter said. "I thought it was best to give him a day, especially with the 4 o'clock and 1 o'clock. He's still available.

"That's something a lot of people miss. There's only two AstroTurf fields left in baseball. And I'm careful about ... All of the divisions are tough, but that alone makes our division tough. Playing three- and four-game series on that turf. And for the home teams, I'm sure it's a challenge for those guys, too.

"He was feeling pretty good yesterday starting the game. Obviously, that was a challenging game on an outfielder."

Hays replaced Jones last night in the bottom of the sixth inning and moved to right field in the seventh, where he committed his first error while attempting a sliding catch. Second baseman Ryan Flaherty and first baseman Trey Mancini joined in the chase as the ball tailed toward the line.

"I like the fact that he called it," Showalter said. "It's a catch he makes 99 percent of the time. Because it doesn't cost you the game, I think it's actually a good experience for him.

"Everything was fine. He just didn't catch the ball, didn't finish the play. I don't mind him calling off. I'm glad he had the fortitude to call him off."

Hays is adjusting to the third deck, lighting and increased crowd noise in major league ballparks.

"It's part of the process," Showalter said, "and that's why you like trying to get a head start on it with some of these guys. I think it's a good learning experience for him, like it is tonight."

Hays is looking for his first hit in five at-bats. He's played 12 1/3 innings in right and only one in center.

"I think it's a good opportunity for him," Showalter said. "I hope he takes advantage. He's facing one of the best pitchers (Luis Severino) in baseball. Somebody might say, 'Maybe you should wait,' but that's the big leagues. That's who we face.

"When's the last time we faced somebody that you'd say, 'Oh yeah, that's a good guy for him?' They don't exist. They don't. And you're talking about a team here that's got six or seven starters and Cleveland has two guys in their bullpen that a lot of people would like to have as starters. It's the big leagues. That's why I keep saying this is the biggest jump in sports, the level of pitching you face."

Shortstop J.J. Hardy wasn't part of the massive substitutions last night in a 13-5 loss. Tim Beckham remained at shortstop.

Hardy said he's fine physically and Showalter confirmed it.

"I plan on him playing Saturday or Sunday," Showalter said. "We like watching Tim, and just out of respect for both players. Same reason why (Brett) Gardner and (Starlin) Castro didn't come in the game. Tonight, I wouldn't put Adam in the game in the eighth inning or ninth inning if it's the other way around.

"Tim loves to play and every opportunity we get to let him play ... That was my thinking. J.J. was fine to play. It's wasn't something like he didn't want to. He was ready to go. He's always ready to go. And there's nothing beneath J.J. But that was kind of a respect thing."

Gabriel Ynoa gets his second start tonight and offers the latest chance for the Orioles to evaluate him with an eye toward 2018. But they're not ignoring the present, no matter where they slot in the standings and wild card race. And that means not treating the last few weeks strictly as an audition for the younger pitchers.

"We're always trying to keep the integrity of the competition and win a game," Showalter said. "We're trying to win 15 in a row. That's just the way it is. And Gabe's our best option at this point. But with that comes a chance to continue to try to make good chances as you go forward. You don't have these opportunities to have these evaluations when the season's over."

Update: Gardner led off tonight's game with a double and scored on Didi Gregorius' sacrifice fly to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

Update II: Welington Castillo hit a two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch in the second inning to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.

Update III: The Yankees tied the game in the second on Chris Davis' fielding error and Gregorius hit a two-run homer off Miguel Castro in the fifth for a 4-2 lead.