The Orioles reshuffled their roster yesterday and ended up with 13 pitchers again.
Because of rainouts, exhausting road trips and an injury to starter Adam Loewen, the Orioles decided to bolster their staff, recalling left-handed starter Garrett Olson and right-handed reliever Bob McCrory from Triple-A Norfolk.
To make room on the 25-man roster, reliever Greg Aquino (14.21 ERA in six games) was designated for assignment and infielder Brandon Fahey (.200 batting average, one RBI in 25 at-bats) was optioned to Norfolk.
Olson, 24, immediately was put into the rotation to face the Tampa Bay Rays last night and took a shutout bid into the seventh inning. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits for his second major league win and left to a rousing ovation.
The Orioles' second selection in the 2005 amateur draft (sandwich pick), Olson was 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings with the Tides. He had a 7.79 ERA in seven starts for the Orioles last year.
The team briefly had gone to 12 pitchers and a four-man bench when Loewen (elbow soreness) was placed on the disabled list Friday and infielder Eider Torres was recalled from Norfolk. Manager Dave Trembley said he wanted to see more from Torres, so Fahey was sent down yesterday.
"I told [Fahey] he's going down there and they're going to move him around. He's a utility player," Trembley said.
Fahey's demotion could take some pressure off shortstop Luis Hernandez, who is batting .222 in 45 at-bats.
"If Luis Hernandez gets a shot, maybe we'll see the Luis Hernandez we saw last year," Trembley said. "I've seen glimpses of it, yes."
The Orioles have 10 days to trade, release or ask waivers on Aquino, who was considered a potential closer candidate this winter before the Orioles acquired George Sherrill from the Seattle Mariners.
McCrory gets call
McCrory learned he would be going to the majors after Monday's game at Charlotte. Tides pitching coach Larry McCall gave him the news.
"I couldn't quit shaking there for a bit," said McCrory, 25. "It's something you dream of your whole life and it finally came true."
It has been a long road for McCrory, who was the Orioles' fourth-round pick in the 2003 amateur draft. Formerly a starter, his career took a major detour in 2005 when he had ligament-reconstruction surgery after five starts. He returned as a late-inning reliever whose low-90s fastball began hitting 97 mph.
"I think I went through [having doubts] quite a bit, especially with all the injuries," said McCrory, who was 0-2 with a 1.80 ERA and four saves at Norfolk. "A long journey getting here, but I'm glad I stuck with it and it finally paid off for me."
Loewen has scan
Loewen had a bone scan yesterday on his left elbow, Trembley said. He underwent magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans Monday, and Trembley said the team was still awaiting results yesterday afternoon. He expected team orthopedists would converse with renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who has previously operated on Loewen. Trembley reiterated that Loewen would be out longer than 15 days, but said he doesn't know a more specific timetable.
Quasi-doubleheader
The Orioles announced they will resume Monday's suspended game against the Chicago White Sox at 6:05 p.m. Aug. 25, when the White Sox are to begin a three-game series at Camden Yards. The game will resume in the top of the 12th inning with the score tied at 3, and the Orioles will be considered the visiting team. Once it is over, the Orioles and White Sox will play their regularly scheduled contest that night.
Tickets for the Aug. 25 game will be valid for the suspended game as well. Monday's contest in Chicago was halted because of rain.
Around the horn
The Orioles said Matt Albers will start tonight's game against the Rays. Trembley was waiting to announce the starter until seeing whether Albers or Jim Johnson was needed out of the bullpen last night. ... Reliever Fernando Cabrera (right elbow surgery) pitched another inning in extended spring training in Sarasota, Fla. He is expected to stay there until May 20 and then go on a rehabilitation assignment.
dan.connolly@baltsun.com