Steve Tolleson made a U-turn in Norfolk back to Baltimore

Steve Tolleson has had a few interesting and active days recently. Sunday: Hits a game-tying, three-run homer against Cliff Lee in an extra-innings win over the Phillies. Monday: Finds out he is being optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles. Wednesday: Drives with his wife and young daughter from Baltimore to Norfolk, arriving there at 4 p.m. and then they unpacked their bags. Today: Gets called to come back to the Orioles, pack the bags again and drive back to Baltimore as he replaces the injured Endy Chavez on the roster. "I got there (Norfolk) yesterday and got unpacked and got a phone call and said, 'You may be coming back up but we're not quite sure what we are going to do so just come and hang out at the hotel until we make some decisions.' That was it. Glad to be here and glad to be playing," Tolleson said today back in the O's clubhouse. He hadn't even seen the lineup yet and was informed by reporters that he was starting in left field tonight against Pittsburgh. So his stay in Norfolk was very short and he never even made it to Harbor Park. "That Washington traffic is something. But it's a much better four-hour ride coming back than going down. Happy to be here," he said. In 12 games with the Orioles, Tolleson is batting .237 with two homers and six RBIs. He has an average of .269 and OPS of .898 against lefty pitchers, and he'll face one tonight in the Pirates' Erik Bedard. After Sunday's game, in a happy O's clubhouse, Tolleson was honest to admit he thought he was going back to the minors as Brian Roberts was ready to come off the DL. What he didn't know was that he would head to Norfolk and make an almost immediate U-turn back to Camden Yards. "Most players, we understand the game and options and how things work. I knew there was a good chance it could be me (going down to Triple-A)," Tolleson said. "I'm glad things worked out the way that they did that it wasn't a distraction during Roberts' first day back. There didn't need to be any distractions, that was his day and a lot of fun to watch. I was extremely happy for him. If you are an Oriole fan, that was a great day."