Wrapping up a 4-0 split-squad win

SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Cashner gave the Orioles four scoreless innings tonight and also gave manager Buck Showalter further confirmation that the club handled the right-hander properly after he signed late.

The two simulated games on Field 4 were a nice platform for tonight's debut, with Cashner allowing only a bunt single by the Phillies' Pedro Florimón in the Orioles' 4-0 split-squad victory at Ed Smith Stadium.

"The schedule he's been on with his sim games, he was good," Showalter said. "That was about as good as you could hope. Had a chance to use all of his pitches, saw a good lineup."

Cashner exudes confidence and the younger pitchers seem to be feeding off it. He works quickly and attacks the hitters.

"I think it's just, 'Here it is, let's go, let's get out here and compete and see where it takes us,'" Showalter said. "I think that's why he's been attractive through the years, because he keeps coming after you. You can see today he's a lot more than a thrower. He mixed in a lot of pitches, slowed them down when he needed to."

Cashner could pitch in a Triple-A game at Twin Lakes Park, but his simulated days are done here. He's expected to start Friday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie.

Anthony Santander made a fine running catch in left field in the fifth to prevent a run from scoring, and his RBI single in the seventh increased the lead to 4-0. He's 13-for-37 (.351) with two home runs and 11 RBIs.

There's no way that the Orioles head north without him. It's just a matter of how many at-bats he gets in a reserve role.

"It's been a real highlight for me is his defensive progress," Showalter said. "And really getting a chance to know him a little bit. He was hurt all spring. Just really get a lot of reps on him on both sides of the ball, not just DHing. It's been fun watching him play defense and really work at it.

"He took everything that we said to him at heart, that he needed to work on. He's gotten after it."

Caleb Joseph was the only catcher in camp without a home run until tonight. His two-run shot to left field in the fifth was a no-doubter and made him 8-for-18 this spring.

The little bat flip was a nice touch.

Darren O'Day survived a leadoff double in the fifth and Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo rebounded from his only poor outing of the spring by retiring the side in order in the sixth with two strikeouts. He fanned Carlos Santana, who walked twice against Cashner, to end the inning.

Araujo had tossed three scoreless innings before allowing two runs and two hits in one inning in his most recent appearance.

"Just about anything in Dunedin I throw out," Showalter said. "He was good. Got to see the changeup. I wanted to bring in Araujo before they started substituting, and had a close game and everything. That was good to see. A lot of quality changeups."

Mychal Givens retired the Phillies in order in the seventh with one strikeout, and left-hander Alex Wells, the organization's minor league Pitcher of the Year, got a big double play after allowing back-to-back singles to open the eighth.

James Teague, impressive again after coming over from minor league camp, retired the side in order in the ninth.