Two more camp cuts and wrapping up a 7-4 win

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reduced the competition for an extra outfielder and utility infielder today by optioning Joey Rickard to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning Ruben Tejada to minor league camp.

The moves leave the Orioles with 42 players on the roster.

Rickard didn't play today and was 5-for-33 (.152) with 10 strikeouts. He was trying to become part of a right field platoon with Colby Rasmus and back up at the other spots, roles that are still alive for Craig Gentry and Austin Hays.

Tejada doubled and scored today in his only at-bat. He was 7-for-36 (.194) and committed three errors.

Luis Sardiñas and Engelb Vielma remain in camp while vying for the utility job. The Orioles also could choose Danny Valencia and use Tim Beckham or Jonathan Schoop as backup shortstops.

Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. made his latest bid today to join the rotation while coming out of the bullpen.

Following Miguel Castro to the mound, Cortes shut out the Yankees on one hit over 3 1/3 innings in a 7-4 win before 8,782, the second-largest crowd at Ed Smith Stadium history since the Orioles moved to Sarasota nine years ago.

Cortes walked two batters and struck out four, and the Orioles won their sixth game in a row to improve their record to 12-8-1.

In his most recent outing, Cortes faced the Blue Jays and allowed three runs and six hits in three innings. He was paired today against the team that exposed him to the Rule 5 draft.

"I don't know if a step forward, it's just getting kind of to what his repertoire and his approach should be a little bit," said manager Buck Showalter. "I don't think it has anything to do with him facing the Yankees. I think he just wanted to continue making a good impression. Better command of the fastball, changed levels with it a little bit. Spun the breaking ball early in the count. A few changeups. Pitched well against left-handed hitters. That was good."

Castro allowed four runs and four hits and walked three batters in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out two, including Aaron Judge, hit a batter and served up a home run to Erik Kratz.

"He's got a lot of emotion going on, but he will during the season, too," Showalter said. "A little slow to the plate. You could tell he was trying to sink the ball a lot as opposed to overthrow it. I thought he pitched a lot better after the first inning. Some of the adrenaline leveled off."

Castro threw 69 pitches, matching his highest total with the Orioles last summer. He was making his second Grapefruit League start following a two-inning B game and every opportunity for him is critical as he also competes for a rotation spot.

"They're important for everybody who is on the cusp, and for him whether he's going to start, relieve or go back to the minor leagues," Showalter said. "That's where the importance lies with every little look we get and how we feel he's progressing with some of the things we're trying to do with him. I'd like to see his command a little better, his time to the plate a little better, but that will come though.

"One thing you like about Miguel is that he's not scared of the competition, what he has to do to compete. He doesn't get involved in the resumes too much, in the bubble gum cards."

Darren O'Day struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning - a batter reached on first baseman Pedro Álvarez's error - and Joely Rodriguez stranded two in the ninth while striking out two to record the save.

"Joely's been impressive," Showalter said. "We haven't had many real power left-handers down there. Who was our last guy other than Zach (Britton)?"

Should we count Andrew Miller or was his tenure too brief?

Adam Jones hit his first home run of the spring and Beckham went 3-for-3. Schoop hit his fourth home run and is batting .406.

Schoop hasn't backed off since being chosen as Most Valuable Oriole.

"Jon doesn't come in here with any airs of entitlement because of what went on last year," Showalter said. "That's why people are really drawn to him with his personality. Jon's very humble and you've got to remind yourself the guy drove in 100 runs last year. He's picked up right where he's left off. He's been good.

"That's about as pretty as sound as you hear is that click he makes when he catches a ball. It's got a little different sound to it. It's not a crack, it's a click.

"It means the ball's going to go where you can't catch it. His ball that he hits, when he squares that ball up to left-center field, left field, has a different sound. People talk about it. Strong young man "

Richard Bleier and Mychal Givens each threw two innings today at minor league camp, where the affiliates began playing games. Brad Brach will work two innings on Thursday, Hunter Harvey will throw three on Friday and Brach and Givens will each throw an inning Monday to give them appearances on back-to-back days counting the Grapefruit League.

Kevin Gausman will work six innings on March 20 at minor league camp and O'Day will pitch two innings. Andrew Cashner will throw six innings on March 21 and O'Day will go one inning on March 24 to give him an appearance on back-to-back days.