Wrapping up Orioles' 11-5 win over Boston

FORT MYERS, Fla. - As the reserves entered this game, it got wild over the final innings. The Orioles scored nine runs in the last three innings to beat Boston 11-5 at JetBlue Park.

The Orioles won for the fourth time in five games and improved to 7-12 in front of a sellout crowd of 9,981.

No cuts were announced after the game. Manager Buck Showalter said he wants to talk to some players before the moves are made. There could be more announced tonight, but tomorrow seems more likely at this point. Mike Wright was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk before today's game and the O's spring roster is now at 44.

Brian Matusz started today's game, pitching four scoreless innings, and Showalter was asked about the trade rumors involving the left-hander.

"I think he hears that every year," Showalter said. "Brian has had some success as a starter, so that's natural this time of year, especially with some of the injuries going around. We're planning on him being a part of our bullpen right now and some depth as a starter. But those type of things happen every spring and he should just be honored that somebody is asking about it."

Matusz gave up just two singles today and has an ERA of 0.87 through four spring outings, the last two as a starter.

"Good. He's getting some good things out of starting," Showalter said."Probably kind of reaching that area where we are going to have to go in the other direction. See what Wally (Dave Wallace) wants to do."

Matusz has pitched seven scoreless innings in starts against Tampa Bay and Boston his last two outings. But Showalter made it sound like he would return to the bullpen for his next appearance.

"I'm not going to say for sure. See what Wally wants to do with some of the ... our schedule is so messed up with the teams in the division towards the end, he may do it again, I don't know. Probably get an idea when I get back."

The Orioles got the desired results out of Matusz starting. What they won't comment on is that other teams got a good long look at the lefty by their scouts for any trade possibilities. But Showalter also wanted Matusz to work on his off-speed pitches against right-handed batters and getting stretched out in starts allowed him to do that.

"Oh, yeah, you saw the changeup," Showalter said. "Challenge we have during the year in the bullpen is being able to keep that. He pitched real well first couple of months of the season, then lost a little bit of a feel for it last year. It keeps him from being a purely situational guy."

The Orioles got nine of their 11 RBIs from players that didn't start the game. Showalter has seen the O's offense score 45 runs the past five games.

"Oh, yeah. Our young guys, Caleb (Joseph) and those guys, got three at-bats that came in later. We got a lot of good work done," he said.

Julio Borbon, Nolan Reimold and Ozzie Martinez had two RBIs each as the Orioles had 14 hits and went 7-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Miguel Gonzalez is the scheduled starter for Saturday when the Orioles come back to Fort Myers to play the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m.