O's to call up hot-hitting Reimold

By Peter Schmuck | peter.schmuck@baltsun.com

May 14, 2009

• E-mail
• Print
• Vote

The Orioles optioned reliever Bob McCrory back to Triple-A Norfolk and will recall outfielder Nolan Reimold in the wake of injuries to outfielder Adam Jones and designated hitter Luke Scott.

Reimold, who is batting .394 with nine homers and 27 RBIs in 31 games, will join the Orioles in Kansas City on Thursday. Manager Dave Trembley said after the Orioles' 8-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night that he had not had time to consider just how Reimold will be used.

"I haven't thought that far ahead," Trembley said. "It depends on the status of Jones and Scott. If neither one of them are able to play, he'll be in the starting lineup. I'll know more about that [Thursday]."

The club reacted out of necessity. Scott strained his rotator cuff Sunday and still cannot swing a bat comfortably. Jones suffered renewed hamstring soreness in his right leg running out an infield hit in the second inning Wednesday. He tried to stay in the game but eventually was removed because of his limited mobility. His status is listed as day-to-day.

McCrory gave up four runs in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday night, leaving the Orioles trailing by six runs before they rallied for four in the bottom of the inning and brought the tying run to the plate with one out.

"I know it looks like [the move] was the result of the top of the ninth," Trembley said, "but the decision was made during the game."

Sherrill on roll

Left-hander George Sherrill hasn't allowed a run in four appearances since his last blown save May 2. He has two saves in that time.

Chalk it up to a tweak in his mechanics and a little old-fashioned motivation. Sherrill said he worked with pitching coach Rick Kranitz to close his body a little more when he comes to the set position, which has helped him get his arm into a higher slot and better finish his pitches. It's similar to his set position last season.

"I'm used to it, so it's comfortable," Sherrill said. "If you look at it, it probably looks a little comfortable, and it is. It just adds to the deception. Anything I can do to keep hitters from seeing it until late is going to help."

Sherrill also acknowledged that he was somewhat fueled by Trembley's decision to temporarily remove him from the closer spot he held for all of 2008.

"I'm glad George is motivated. He has pitched better," Trembley said. "I'm hoping we have more save opportunities. We'll see where it goes from there. But I would agree; he has pitched better."

Wigginton's quick switch

Ty Wigginton was in the Orioles' dugout at the end of the third inning Tuesday when bench coach Dave Jauss told him he might have to play left field for Pie.

The first thing Wigginton had to do was go back into the clubhouse to retrieve his outfielder's glove. He has played only infield this season but was looking forward to getting back into left, which he played in the spring and for the Astros in 2008.

"Obviously, it all happened pretty fast," Wigginton said. "Those situations happen all the time in baseball."

Around the horn

Trembley said the Orioles still haven't made a decision on activating lefty Rich Hill, who is at Triple-A Norfolk on a rehabilitation assignment. ... Center fielder Adam Jones became the fourth Oriole since 1984 to have a multi-homer game at the age of 23 when he did it Tuesday against Tampa Bay. He joins Cal Ripken Jr. in 1984, Jeffrey Hammonds in 1994 and Nick Markakis, who hit three in a game in 2006.

- Baltimore Sun reporters Dan Connolly and Jeff Zrebiec contributed to this article.