Williams getting a chance he knew would come (O's up 3-2)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mason Williams signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on March 28 because he saw an opportunity to play for them.

It just took a while.

Williams had his contract selected today from Triple-A Norfolk and got the start in center field in Game 1 of the doubleheader. He's the 57th player used by the Orioles to break last year's club record.

"He was a guy I saw a couple years ago in Cincinnati and he's had a really nice year in Norfolk for us," said manager Brandon Hyde. "Can play all three outfield spots and has played center field in the big leagues. Looking forward to giving him an opportunity here this month and see what he can do."

Williams watched his teammates get the call over the summer while he stayed with the Tides. He slashed .308/.371/.477 in 121 games. He collected 15 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs and 67 RBIs.

And he kept waiting.

Williams, 28, said he didn't wonder when he'd get a shot.

"You just have to go day by day with the things I can control down there," he said.

"I knew I'd have an opportunity, but honestly I didn't try to look that much into it because that doesn't really help out a lot."

Williams is playing in his first major league game since Sept. 30, 2018 with the Reds. He's expecting to get a long look from the Orioles as they determine whether he's worth keeping in the organization.

"I want to play and hopefully I do play. I just have to get an opportunity to prove myself," he said.

"At the end of the day I just want to get back to the big leagues, stay healthy and try to win games."

The roster expansion, which includes catcher Austin Wynns and pitchers Ty Blach, Evan Phillips, David Hess and Chandler Shepherd, gives Hyde more options but also makes it harder to match up favorably with the opposition.

The other dugouts also are filling up.

"I think especially against teams that are contending and trying to get into the postseason they're loaded up pretty well and able to match up well with you," Hyde said.

"September's just a different game with pinch-runners, pinch-hitters, matchup guys out of the bullpen. Games can get a little longer. So yeah, it makes it difficult. It's nice to have the bodies we have. We obviously need the pitching. We need arms down in our bullpen. But at the same time other teams are loaded up, as well."

The Orioles have subtracted pitcher Tom Eshelman and infielder Jace Peterson from the 40-man roster over the past two days to make room for Williams and Mark Trumbo.

"It wasn't really about them," Hyde said. "It was more about giving Mason an opportunity to play up here and keeping some guys on our 40-man. But both of those guys did a nice job in our organization. I remember Tom's first start here, he pitched well, and did a nice job in Anaheim. And Jace is a pro. So it was tough to see both of those guys go."

Hyde won't know who's starting Game 2 until he makes it through Game 1. Hess and Shepherd are options and he also has Gabriel Ynoa in the bullpen.

Blach got the call in the opener.

"We'll see where we are after Game 1," Hyde said. "The doubleheader today wasn't something we were planning, obviously, and so we had (John) Means starting tomorrow and we can't bring him back short, so we're going to be mixing and matching Game 1 and Game 2."

Means will start Thursday night against the Rangers at Camden Yards.

Update: Travis d'Arnaud's two-run homer in the fourth gave the Rays a 2-0 lead.

Update II: Rio Ruiz hit a two-run homer in the fifth to tie the game.

Update III: Anthony Santander homered off Oliver Drake in the sixth inning for a 3-2 lead.