Yovani Gallardo saves his best for last

SARASOTA, Fla. - Yovani Gallardo went out on a high note.

Gallardo turned in his finest performance of the spring today. Yes, it came against the Braves. It still provided a reminder of what he can bring to the rotation.

On the same day that manager Buck Showalter confirmed Mike Wright as the fourth starter, Gallardo pitched like an ace - or at least the No. 2 guy behind Chris Tillman.

The Orioles have been waiting.

Gallardo retired 14 of the 15 batters he faced before Tyler Wilson replaced him to open the sixth. The only hit was a leadoff single by Adonis Garcia in the second, and he was erased on a double play, meaning Gallardo faced the minimum number of batters in five innings.

Showalter removed him after only 48 pitches, 28 for strikes. Gallardo is getting in more work in the bullpen.

Gallardo threw 11 pitches in the first inning, nine in the second, 12 in the third, seven in the fourth and nine in the fifth. He still won't light up a radar gun, but he shut down the Braves, whose lineup included projected regulars Ender Inciarte, Erick Aybar, Freddie Freeman, Garcia and Hector Olivera - plus Jeff Francoeur, Gordon Beckham and Tyler Moore.

It wasn't a skeleton crew, but Gallardo showed plenty of backbone. (Sorry.)

Gallardo lowered his ERA from 16.88 to 10.38 in 13 Grapefruit League innings.

Rule 5 pick Jason Rickard led off the bottom of the first inning with a bloop single into right field for his team-leading 24th hit - he just can't help himself - but the actual damage came in the second on Jonathan Schoop's three-run homer off former Oriole Bud Norris.

Schoop has four home runs this spring. He also singled in the fifth.

Mark Trumbo singled with one out in the second and Pedro Alvarez reached on a bunt hit against the shift, something the Orioles are doing with regularity down here. J.J. Hardy struck out before Schoop unloaded.

Matt Wieters stole second base in the fourth inning after a leadoff single. He had two bunt hits last night.

What's going on here?