Wrapping up an 11-4 loss to the Braves

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Hyun Soo Kim likely will make the trip to Port Charlotte on Thursday before getting a day off. Kim will play three straight days to open the Grapefruit League schedule.

Kim has gone 0-for-6 against the Braves. Perhaps he'll have better luck versus the Rays.

As for Ubaldo Jimenez's abbreviated outing today, Showalter didn't offer the slightest hint of concern.

"First one," Showalter said. "Dismiss it a little bit. First outing of spring training. Wind blowing out. Ground ball first hitter, 54-roller rolls over the bag and after that, ball is flying around.

"He got his pitches in. We were hoping for two (innings). He just happened to get his pitch count in in one inning. Actually, a third of an inning.

"I thought he was pretty close. I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock into the statistical fact. It's one of those spring training games where you throw a lot of it out. I might throw out the second one, too, depending on the field and the conditions. I don't pay a lot of attention to it right now."

Showalter places greater emphasis on the results after the games begin to count in the standings.

"What I'm most interested in is his first start in Baltimore, because that's when it starts," Showalter said.

"I trust him. He's been around. He's pitched a lot of innings. He's been a healthy horse for a long time and we expect him to be again, take the ball very fifth day. There's something to be said about that. My most interest is when the bell rings."

Showalter figured that Chris Davis and Jonathan Schoop hit legitimate home runs today. No wind necessary. Otherwise ...

Todd Redmond retired all three batters he faced in the third inning.

"Redmond's a trustworthy guy. He knows what he's doing," Showalter said.

We've joked about the ball always finding Jimmy Paredes when he's in the field. It found him three times in the seventh inning and he fielded each one cleanly, also making strong throws to first base to record the outs.

Nothing wrong with a little confidence boost in spring training.

"He had a good game defensively," Showalter said. "Everybody pulls for Jimmy. He's so likable and he's so sincere, and he loves being an Oriole and contributing, which he did at a pretty clip for quite a while last year.

"I was kidding with him. He went over to the Dominican and was playing the outfield, and it seemed to improve him in the infield, so that's a new mode of operation. No, Jimmy had a good day defensively and that was good to see. He knows that's probably the last missing thing for the waters to part and him get an opportunity.

"He works hard at it. You know Jimmy's going to be as good as he can be. He's got a very trustworthy attitude. Jimmy cares, he cares a lot."

Nolan Reimold reached on an infield hit, walked and stole a base within the first four innings.

"That's the one thing Nolan brings," Showalter said. "He's deep in some counts. You see him go 0-2, 1-2, and then all of a sudden it's 3-2 and he may walk. That's tough on a pitcher, the guys that grind those at-bats. That's something he brings. Just get him to stay on the field."