Showalter speaks after 1-0 loss to Phillies

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have scored one run in their last two games, losing 1-0 to the Phillies today at Ed Smith Stadium.

Manager Buck Showalter was impressed again with his pitching. Brian Matusz allowed the only run on Andres Blanco's homer in the fifth. Matusz threw two scoreless innings before coming back out.

Chris Tillman and Tyler Wilson each registered two scoreless innings. Darren O'Day retired the Phillies in order in the ninth.

"Tyler was really good again," Showalter said.

Showalter said it's too early for relievers to throw in back-to-back games.

"Right now they're all just making sure they pitch the next three days so they don't go to Jupiter. They know what's going on," Showalter said.

Showalter said Alejandro De Aza, who singled in the first inning as the Orioles' leadoff hitter, "has had some good at-bats lately." He also noted how Everth Cabrera "squared up some balls today."

Caleb Joseph singled in his first at-bat since becoming a father.

"He can actually swing the bat better now than before he left us for a couple days," Showalter said. "It's good to get him there. He's pretty happy right now and rightfully so."

Showalter said more cuts could be made later tonight or on Tuesday. He wants to meet with each player in his office and have certain coaches and staff members in the room. It's not a fast process.

"There are a couple of them I'm considering," he said. "It's timing. There will be some more over the next couple of days. I just don't want to rush through any conversations. I have some time at lunch, but I'm not going to rush a conversation to get to another one if I don't get there."

Catcher Brian Ward was included among today's cuts.

"If you get involved with the timing of them, it doesn't mean the pecking order of what we think, especially with a guy like Ward because we know what he can do and what he's capable of and it's something that could impact us this year," Showalter said. "But Matt (Wieters) is going to start catching here in about a week, so with (Ryan) Lavarnway and (J.P.) Arencibia and really Clev (Steve Clevenger) somewhat and Joseph ...

"We're not real sure what we have in Arencibia and Lavarnway. We're pretty sure where Brian's concerned that he's a guy who can do something for us. We want to make sure we brought him into camp. That's one of the things I told him. It wouldn't be today if it was just pecking order. They're starting games on Friday over there as far as intrasquad and different things. We just don't want to continue to have him be the third catcher every day and not get in there very much.

"If you go back through the whole history of it, this guy was Rule 5-eligible and we talked a lot about protecting him and he goes through and doesn't get taken. That's why it was important for me and us to bring him to camp. We like him. We'll see what shakes out here and how it affects him here in Norfolk. I'm not going to sit here and know exactly what's going to happen when we get ready to start playing in Norfolk, but he's a good option for us. We feel like we have our hands around what he can do."

The Orioles aren't sure whether Adam Gladstone is returning as replay coordinator. They have in-house options if he doesn't come back.