Simon set for return to Orioles

Right-handed reliever Alfredo Simon returns to the Orioles active roster for tonight's game with St. Louis. He was out since June 13 with a right hamstring strain. Simon said he feels great. He pitched two scoreless innings for Double-A Bowie on Sunday after spending some time rehabbing the hamstring in Florida. "I just was working in Sarasota and now I'm ready to go," Simon said. "I just pitched two innings in Bowie and feel ready to go." Simon last pitched for the Orioles on June 12 and in five games is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.14 and 15 strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings. "I know I'm going to be ready soon because there's no bad hamstring," Simon said. "They gave me 15 days to do my rehab and now I feel great. "I just feel good because I missed all my teammates. So I'm just going to try and do my thing and pitch well. So it's going pretty good right now." Simon has been a bullpen pitcher and starter for the Orioles and he saved 17 games last year. He is not ready to express a preference for either role, although he is in the 'pen for now. "I mean, today they have to decide what I do so I don't want to say anything wrong. Whatever they want me to do I have to do it," he said. "If the starter doesn't go a lot of innings, I can go four or five innings to help the team win the game." In the minor leagues this afternoon: Akron beat Bowie 4-1, completing a three-game sweep. The Baysox fall to 37-39 with their sixth loss in seven games. Greg Miclat stole two bases for Bowie and is a perfect 23-for-23 in steal attempts on the year. Single-A Delmarva scored six runs in the seventh to beat Greensboro, 9-4. Mike Flacco hit a solo homer and had two RBIs. Jeremy Nowak drove in three for Delmarva. Shorebirds' starter Jarret Martin got the win, giving up two runs over 6 2/3 innings. The Single-A Frederick Keys have activated right-handed pitcher Ryan O'Shea off the disabled list. He has been out with a sore shoulder. O'Shea is 3-3 with an ERA of 3.59 in eight starts and last pitched for the Keys on May 24.