Erik Bedard, widely regarded as the Orioles' top pitching prospect, was examined by team physician Dr. Charles Silberstein yesterday at Camden Yards after leaving Wednesday's start for Double-A Bowie with pain in his left elbow.
Club officials were waiting for the results last night.
"I'd hope if it was anything serious, they'd tell me right away," farm director Don Buford said.
Bedard, 23, was removed from the game in the eighth inning after having a pitch fouled off. He was accompanied by trainer P.J. Mainville and headed directly to the clubhouse. He retired the last 14 batters he faced and held Akron to two runs and two hits in 7 2/3 innings.
"They took him out as a precautionary thing," Buford said.
A sixth-round draft choice in 1999, Bedard was named yesterday as the Baysox's lone representative for the Double-A All-Star Game on July 10. He's 6-3 with a 1.97 ERA that leads the Eastern League.
Bedard made two relief appearances with the Orioles this season before returning to Bowie.
Julio finds groove again
Orioles closer Jorge Julio has long idolized New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, and the two had a conversation earlier this month that seems to have helped turn around Julio's season.
Julio and Rivera spoke at Yankee Stadium on June 3, and that night Julio entered in a tight spot. The Yankees had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth inning, with the Orioles clinging to a one-run lead.
Jorge Posada tied the score with a sacrifice fly, but the Orioles regained the lead the next inning, and Julio stranded the tying run on second base in the ninth. Since that game, Julio has converted seven consecutive save opportunities.
What did Rivera say?
"He said not to change my mechanics," Julio said. "That's helped me stay on top of the ball."
Julio posted a 1.32 ERA during April, but that number was 5.56 during May, when he blew two saves and took three losses. But Julio has regained manager Mike Hargrove's confidence.
"His mechanics are more sound," Hargrove said. "He's not overthrowing as much, he's trusting his stuff more."
No Lopez realignment
Hargrove said he has no plans to alter his rotation so Rodrigo Lopez wouldn't pitch two days before the All-Star Game, which might affect whether the right-hander is chosen by American League manager Joe Torre.
Lopez's turn comes up July 7, and he remains one of the Orioles' leading candidates at 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA.
For Hargrove to start juggling his pitchers to accommodate Lopez, "somebody would have to make a real good case," he said. "I'd hate to change the whole pitching rotation and then have him not make it."
Lopez didn't help his cause Tuesday by allowing six runs in six innings to Torre's team.
"A couple guys have asked me about the All-Star Game," Lopez said, "but that's not my priority right now. My priority is trying to help the team. I was just focusing on my job [Wednesday]. I wasn't thinking about the All-Star Game."
Around the horn
Jeff Conine, who's eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday, took batting practice for the first time since straining his right hamstring June 14. ... Outfielder Karim Garcia, who went 0-for-16 with six strikeouts in eight games with the Orioles in 2000, had his contract purchased by the Yankees from Triple-A Columbus and was in uniform last night. ... Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen threw out the first pitch.