The pitching takes a turn for the better (plus other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - If we could survey the collective pulse of Birdland this morning, it is probably beating at a normal pace right now. Nothing that a few wins and a few good pitching performances couldn't help.

When the Orioles started their spring training schedule 0-10-2, they allowed 87 runs and some of the fans were getting nervous. Some were very nervous. Now, after a run of 5-2-1 where they allowed 43 runs, the concern is lessened. While 43 runs is not a small total, they had games in that stretch where they allowed nine and 14 runs.

A look at some of the pitchers' recent performances:

* Pedro Beato: Six scoreless innings this spring.
* Brad Brach: Four scoreless innings over his last three games.
* Zach Britton: One run allowed in four innings this spring. Also two dominant innings at minor league camp. He looks very ready.
* Dylan Bundy: Four innings with one unearned run over his last three games.
* Odrisamer Despaigne: Over his past three games, 7 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs.
* Oliver Drake: Six scoreless innings this spring.
* Mychal Givens: Has thrown 6 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run.
* Ubaldo Jimenez: Over his last three games (counting a Triple-A game) he's thrown 11 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and two runs.
* Chaz Roe: Over his last four games, 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
* Tyler Wilson: Over his past three games, three earned runs allowed over 8 1/3 innings.
* Mike Wright: Five scoreless innings Thursday against Minnesota.

After that slow start, O's pitchers needed to dial it up with opening day approaching. Miguel Gonzalez had a solid outing Friday against New York, allowing four hits and two runs over four innings.

"You want to keep going and finish strong. The next start, work hard again and keep doing what we're doing and we're going to be OK. We're been playing the Oriole Way lately," he said.

* New Oriole Pedro Alvarez played in his first spring game one week ago today. He doubled home a run off the right-center field fence against the Twins in Fort Myers in his first at-bat with the club.

The hits have been slower to come since then. He went 1-for-3 that first game and is 1-for-14 over his last four games.

"He's doing fine," manager Buck Showalter said. "It's like golf when you haven't played in seven or eight months. First time out, the golf gods let you play well and then slap you back to reality. He started out those first few games real comfortable and you go through a period.

"In the clubhouse the other day, he was looking at some games in the video room from last year, this year. So far, so good. I think he's going to have a big year for us."

* Brian Gonzalez is one of the young pitchers in O's minor league camp looking for big things in 2016. He was the club's top draft pick, which did not come until the third round and 90th overall selection, in 2014. After that season, he was ranked as the club's No. 23 prospect by Baseball America. But he fell out of those top 30 rankings after last year when he went 4-9 with a 5.71 ERA in 23 starts for Single-A Delmarva. He averaged 6.90 strikeouts for every nine innings and 5.03 walks.

"Last year was a huge learning experience," Gonzalez said this week at Twin Lakes Park. "You get out of spring training on a full-season squad and you're all excited. As a young guy, you just want to go out and compete.

"Obviously, my struggles was a huge learning experience. That is how I take it. I have to learn from that and move forward. You have to have a short memory and believe in and trust your stuff."

Gonzalez was among a group of minor league players that reported to an early camp on Feb. 23 and he already has thrown a couple of games, going three innings.

He threw three scoreless innings in a Single-A game Wednesday on just 43 pitches. He was so efficient that he needed to go to the bullpen to reach his pitch count, throwing 10 more pitches.

Orioles director of player development Brian Graham saw that strong outing from Gonzalez on Wednesday.

"He threw strikes and he really pitched under control and commanded the baseball," Graham said. "Brian Gonzalez is on a mission. Brian did not compete last year at the level he feels he's capable of. As well, we feel he is capable of pitching better than last season. He has his sights set on a really good year."

* It is the ultimate small sample size, but two veteran members of the 2015 Double-A Eastern League champion Bowie Baysox have done rather well in Orioles spring training games.

Garabez Rosa is 4-for-5 with four singles and three RBIs. Quincy Latimore is 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a solo homer.