By Jeff Zrebiec | jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com

June 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA — - Feeling that Chris Ray has worked out the command and mechanical issues that got him demoted to Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles will recall the reliever before Tuesday's series opener against the Florida Marlins.

He'll replace Alberto Castillo, who was optioned to Norfolk after Sunday's game. That will leave Orioles manager Dave Trembley without a left-handed specialist in his bullpen, though Trembley could use long man Mark Hendrickson in certain situations.

"It has more to do with the status of Chris Ray than it does with the status of Alberto Castillo," Trembley said. "Chris Ray went down there with some guidelines and a plan and to get himself straightened out. The reports that we got back on him are that he's ready to come back here, pitch in the big leagues and help us."

Ray, the team's former closer who was optioned on May 28 after compiling a 9.39 ERA in 17 appearances with the Orioles, was 0-1 with a 1.64 ERA in seven outings for the Tides. He allowed four hits and walked four while striking out 13 in 11 innings.

Castillo, who joined the bullpen when Jamie Walker was released, made four appearances for the Orioles, allowing one earned run in 2 1/3 innings. Left-handed hitters went 3-for-7 against him.

Asked whether he is concerned about not having a left-handed specialist in the bullpen, Trembley said: "You are going to go with the best available guy you got in that situation. You trust that guy and hope it works out."

Markakis finally sits
Right fielder Nick Markakis became the last Orioles regular to get a day off when he was held out of the starting lineup Sunday with left-hander Cole Hamels on the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nolan Reimold started in right field, Luke Scott played left and Ty Wigginton got the start at first base with Aubrey Huff also getting the afternoon off.

"It's a good day to have it," said Markakis, who was brought on as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning and reached on an error in his only plate appearance. "We're facing a bunch of lefties and [Hamels is] not a bad lefty to have off [against]."

Markakis continues to struggle to get in a groove and is hitting .275 in June after posting a .240 batting average in May. He has just one homer and four RBIs in 19 games this month.

"If you look at it, I'm up there battling," he said. "I'd like to hit better with runners in scoring position, but that's when pitchers pitch their best. I'm going to try to be a little more aggressive than I have been, and hopefully things work out."

Revisiting Howard's homer
Ryan Howard, who had spent about seven hours in the hospital Saturday before coming to Citizens Bank Park and hitting a pinch-hit, three-run homer off reliever Danys Baez, returned to the hospital Sunday as he continued to struggle with flulike symptoms.

Howard was discharged from the hospital but didn't play Sunday, ending the major league's longest active streak of 343 consecutive games played.

Asked whether he regretted not intentionally walking Howard in the seventh inning Saturday, which would have loaded the bases with two outs in a one-run game, Trembley said he didn't. But he reiterated that the game plan was for Baez not to give the slugger any good pitches to hit.

"I talked to [Gregg] Zaun ... and I asked, 'Where were you guys trying to throw it and he said, 'We were trying to throw the ball low and away, get the ball out of the strike zone,' " Trembley said. "It didn't happen. That's baseball."

All about class
After Baez got out of the seventh inning Saturday following Howard's homer, he walked into the Orioles' dugout and immediately approached Brad Bergesen to apologize. Howard's homer turned a Bergesen win into a potential loss, which irked Baez more than anything.

"The guy is unbelievable," Bergesen said. "I had to tell him to shut up when he did it again in the clubhouse. The guy has bailed me out so many times. He's just such a class act and a true professional. That's why he's a clubhouse favorite here."