PHOENIX - The Orioles don't plan to demote left-handed reliever B.J. Ryan, even though he has a minor-league option remaining and has an earned run average of 8.06.
"Pitchers go through slumps just like hitters go through slumps," Orioles vice president for baseball operations Syd Thrift said yesterday. "I don't know why everybody gets nervous about B.J. I'd like to have one more just like him. He's going to get better."
Ryan, 26, struggled through the first three weeks of the season, posting a 9.45 ERA. He lowered that number to 4.86 by the end of May, going through a stretch where he allowed just two earned runs in 14 appearances.
But Ryan's struggles have reached new depths.
He has allowed four home runs in his past six appearances, spanning six innings. What's worse, each of those home run hitters - Jason Giambi, Robin Ventura, Ryan Klesko and Erubiel Durazo - is left-handed.
On Sunday in Philadelphia, Ryan walked three of the four batters he faced. On Tuesday, he gave up a two-run homer to Durazo after the Orioles had come back to trim Arizona's lead to one.
"Before sending somebody down, you have to have somebody who can take their place," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "Right now, we don't have that."
The Orioles have two left-handers on their staff, Ryan and Buddy Groom. They traded often-injured lefty John Bale to the New York Mets in April for outfielder Gary Matthews.
Left-hander John Parrish probably won't pitch this season after undergoing knee surgery this spring. And another lefty, Sean Runyan, is on the disabled list with an arm injury at Triple-A Rochester.
The Orioles promoted their top pitching prospect, Erik Bedard, from Double-A Bowie in April but quickly sent him down because they would rather he gain the experience of starting every fifth day.
Hargrove said he could get by with one left-hander, but not "unless you want Buddy Groom's tongue hanging on the ground by August."
"We feel there are better ways to attack this and solve this," Hargrove said. "That's part of the growing pains we all have to live with. There are going to be times he [Ryan] goes out and he's lights out, and there are times like [Tuesday] night when things just didn't work."
Ryan's biggest problem has been his inability to command his fastball. By altering Ryan's role, allowing him to pitch longer stints in lower-pressure situations, the Orioles hope he can work out the kinks.
"I'm just trying to shake it, and try to get it going again," Ryan said.
Douglass shakes rust
Sean Douglass hadn't pitched in 16 days, but he came in Tuesday night and threw two innings of scoreless relief. To stay sharp, he threw every third day in the bullpen.
The Orioles have talked about sending Douglass to Rochester, so he can pitch more, but for now they don't have a viable right-handed alternative either.
"There's a lot of benefits to pitching in Rochester and a lot of benefits to pitching here," Douglass said.
"At least here I'm seeing major-league hitters. I'm not going to argue either way."
Around the horn
Rodrigo Lopez, whose start was pushed back two days because of a cracked right middle fingernail, said he threw in the bullpen Tuesday without any problem. He's scheduled to start tonight opposite Randy Johnson. ... Thrift said the Orioles have made a preliminary offer to first-round draft pick Adam Loewen, a left-handed pitcher out of Fraser Valley High School in Surrey, British Columbia. Teams are required to make an offer within 15 days of drafting players. ... Last night's victory was Chris Brock's first since June 16, 2001, when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies. ... The Orioles have won 10 times in Sidney Ponson's 15 starts. Ponson is 0-1 with a 2.10 ERA in his past four starts. ... Curt Schilling is 19-4 in his past 27 regular-season starts and is 23-4 in 33 starts counting the postseason. ... Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Williams will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson next week. He broke his left leg in March.