Showalter on 6-3 win in Game 2 and possible roster move

The Orioles intend to bring up a pitcher from Triple-A Norfolk for Friday night's series opener against the Rays at Camden Yards. They used seven relievers today while splitting a doubleheader with the White Sox before 18,441 at Camden Yards.

"We're going to probably have to make some adjustments with our bullpen now because everybody pitched today, but we spread it around," said manager Buck Showalter after a 6-3 win in Game 2. "We'll see. We've got some work to do tonight before we leave."

The Tides used only one reliever today, Jorge Rondon, who worked 2 2/3 innings. Eliminate him from consideration.

The Orioles have an opening on their 40-man roster after designating outfielder Alejandro De Aza for assignment.

Tyler Wilson was returned to Norfolk after serving as the 26th man.

Both ends of the doubleheader were played in under three hours, but they took a toll.

"This is why you grind and wait around to get all the games in with rain. Doubleheaders are ... You get caught playing many in the big leagues, you're going to pay the piper," Showalter said.

Asked whether he can exhale now, he replied, "Exhale? I'm just glad I'm inhaling and exhaling, period, at my age.

"I don't know. We knew it was coming. But it's been sitting there and everybody knows it's coming. It's one of those things you've got to get through before it and after it. I think about the White Sox. They played some tough games in Toronto and they had to travel here. We had it easier than they did, and now they're heading to Houston. I don't think people realize the challenge.

"We're not the only ones facing it. All through baseball, the schedule is a challenge. And let's keep in mind why we're playing these two games. It was self-inflicted. I think sometimes we lose sight of why we're doing what we're doing today."

Showalter said he wasn't dreading the doubleheader because he knew it was coming.

"I've got some private thoughts about the way you approach doubleheaders, but it probably wouldn't read good," he said.

"In the big leagues, you can win, split, whatever and the ramifications last for a long, long time. We're going to have to make adjustments. The BP schedule tomorrow, the advance meeting, some things, whether I might not play a couple of guys tomorrow that normally would have. Getting ready to play Tampa. There's a lot of things you have to be on top of - who pitches, who doesn't pitch. That's why it's important to have a maneuverable roster."

Both starters for the doubleheader, Wilson and Mike Wright, began the year at Triple-A Norfolk.

"The other side of that's not good," Showalter said. "What did we end up getting out of them, 11 innings? Pretty impressive against a team coming off a good series in Toronto, playing a lot better. Big for us."

Adam Jones rolled his left ankle while scoring in the third inning, but he stayed in the game and later made a couple of nice running catches.

"It was an awkward slide," Showalter said. "He's lucky that his spike didn't catch. He spun around. Richie (Bancells) looked at it. Taking a hammer and hammering your shin two or three times today.

"Adam is just a real post-up guy. I'm telling you, the play he made to end the seventh inning, and the backdoor on the cutoff at first base. You play 16 innings he had played at that time, that was a big out to have (Jose) Abreu lead off as not anything other than the fourth run at 5-3. And that ball's hit in left-center field and a lot of guys may not have gotten to that ball. Those are little things that don't go unnoticed and that's why he is who he is. And I know the pitchers notice.

"That's a big play, having him lead off the next inning against Darren (O'Day). It was Darren and Zach (Britton) and Brad (Brach) one up one inning and that's it. We're trying to win that game."

Oliver Drake also tossed a scoreless inning after walking three batters. He's a candidate to be optioned on Friday. Chaz Roe is out of options and would have to pass through waivers and be outrighted.

"Ollie, I don't think I've ever seen that inning before," Showalter said. "It was hard to believe there was a zero hanging out there, but we'll take it."

Wright got the win after allowing three runs and six hits in five innings.

"He's a little elevated with some pitches he's trying to get down," Showalter said. "He got around some breaking balls. I didn't like the at-bats the guys coming up in the sixth inning had off him. Ollie couldn't defend himself against all the left-hand hitters and he eventually did. He threw three or four pitches that were strikes that were called balls. It's tough. It's the guys first time to see that split."

Showalter tied Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog for 35th place on the all-time wins list with 1,281.

"I bet I've got more losses than he's got. Or we have, teams that were fortunate enough to stand in the dugout with," Showalter said.

"That list has got a lot of nicknames. My daughter is aware of that. I didn't know she knew who Whitey Herzog was. It means you've done something a long time.

"I bet Whitey doesn't have a gnome."

He will on Friday. The Cardinals are giving them out.