Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Lineups in the American League always differ from National League lineups because they include the designated hitter, which eliminates the need for having the pitcher hit. But Orioles manager Dave Trembley was a pioneer of sorts yesterday.

What he did for the second intrasquad game was unique, to say the least.

Trembley didn't include a designated hitter on Gary Allenson's club, and he omitted a left fielder for Brad Komminsk's team. But he had his reasons.

Trembley explained that outfielder Jay Payton left camp earlier with flulike symptoms, and that he wanted to rest the veterans who played in Tuesday's intrasquad game. He had eight batters in each lineup, and bullpen catcher Ruben Felix played left field for Komminsk's team.

Felix wasn't allowed to hit. That would have been too extreme, even for Trembley.