The bullpen and booing Teixeira (O's win 6-5)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter believes his bullpen is in good shape for tonight's series opener against the Yankees at Camden Yards despite the loss of setup man Darren O'Day, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

Showalter used Brad Brach for only one inning last night to keep the right-hander available. Mychal Givens worked two innings last night and most likely will be rested, but Showalter has other available arms, including T.J. McFarland and closer Zach Britton.

Dylan Bundy threw 37 pitches on Tuesday and should be ready tonight if called upon.

Showalter hinted at a health issue with O'Day yesterday during the "Manager's Report" on 105.7 The Fan. I wanted Showalter's opinion on O'Day equaling last season's total with five home runs allowed.

"There's some reasons," Showalter replied. "Sometimes, we get spoiled by Darren and think he just throws his glove out there and people wilt in his presence, but that's not the case. He makes a mistake and it just tells you how few mistakes he's made.

"There's some other challenges I think he's working his way through like all pitchers do and he did last year, whether they be physical or execution or anything. There's a lot of things we're aware of that we don't broadcast."

I intended to approach O'Day's locker this afternoon and pry a little, but he wasn't in the clubhouse. Not long after it closed to the media, the Orioles announced their roster move.

Mark Teixeira stepped to the plate in the second inning and received the usual greeting from Orioles fans. The rain has stopped, but he's still showered with boos. The only applause from the locals came when he grounded out.

The reception isn't nearly as intense in the eighth and final season of his Yankees contract. David Ortiz and Jose Bautista are more likely to bounce the needle into the red on the hostility meter. But fans still aren't forgiving him for spurning his hometown team during free agency.

A Severna Park native and Mount St. Joe grad wearing pinstripes and stating that he was fulfilling a childhood dream? That one stung like a 500-lb. wasp.

"He signed an eight-year deal?" Showalter asked. "God bless him. No wonder he didn't sign here."

A New York writer wanted Showalter's opinion of the harsh reaction whenever Teixeira is introduced at Camden Yards.

"Our guys aren't booers that much," he said. "They voice their opinion. I've been around booing in New York. Mark's got a lot of friends who are very close here. I'm sure there are a lot of people that really wanted Mark to return home. It kind of tells you how good our baseball fans are. They understand where Mark's from and how much they would have liked for him to play for Baltimore.

"It worked out for everybody. It worked out for Chris Davis and it worked out for Mark. One door closes and another one opens. I'm sure Mark's happy with his decision and we're happy we have Chris."

The Orioles made one modest offer to Teixeira - at least by baseball standards - and never increased it, heeding the warning from agent Scott Boras that the first baseman wasn't going to sign with them. The Yankees gave Teixeira $180 million over eight years.

"Mark's a good player," Showalter said. "I had him in Texas. I knew he was going to be pretty good. That was a real easy evaluation.

"Tough part was moving him over to first base. He was a third baseman. Trying to get Rafael Palmeiro to embrace DHing. That was hard. That was a long conversation.

"Never let a star fall on you. You've heard that expression? That's why."

I wrote earlier that Wandy Rodriguez continues to pitch at extended spring training, increasing his pitch count while waiting for the Orioles to make a decision on him.

"He's doing OK," Showalter said. "He's healthy. I don't know if there's any pitcher you could send down there and be real effective every pitch they throw in that environment."

Update: The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Mark Trumbo's leadoff double to right-center field, Matt Wieters' ground ball to the right side and Pedro Alvarez's single into left-center field.

In his last three games, Alvarez has collected three hits, homered and delivered an RBI single.

Meanwhile, Teixeira came out of the game before the bottom of the third inning. Rob Refsnyder is playing first base. There could be an issue with Teixeira's knee.

Update II: Tillman threw 43 pitches in the fourth inning to run his count to 74, and the Yankees took a 3-1 lead on Carlos Beltran's two-run homer and Alex Rodriguez's solo shot that followed.

Tillman has allowed five home runs in his last two starts and seven in his last four.

Update III: Chris Davis homered to right field, his 100th at Camden Yards, to reduce the lead to 3-2 in the fourth.

Davis trails only Rafael Palmeiro (124) and Adam Jones (110) on the all-time list.

Update IV: Austin Romine homered on Tillman's second pitch of the fifth inning to give New York a 4-2 lead. That's back-to-back three-homer outings for Tillman.

Update V: Tillman allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, with two walks, five strikeouts and three home runs. He threw 109 pitches, 61 for strikes.

McFarland replaced him after Chase Headley's RBI single scored Didi Gregorius, who doubled with two outs.

Update VI: The Orioles scored three runs in the sixth to tie the game. Matt Wieters delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded and Mark Trumbo scored on Jonathan Schoop's double.

Tillman is off the hook.

Trumbo is 3-for-3.

Update VII: The Orioles took a 6-5 lead against Dellin Betances in the seventh. Adam Jones singled, moved to third on Hyun Soo Kim's third hit and scored on Manny Machado's roller up the third base line.

Update VIII: The Orioles rally past the Yankees 6-5, with Zach Britton recording his 16th save.

The Orioles have won three in a row.

Mychal Givens retired all four batters he faced.