FREDERICK — After three smooth innings for the High-A Frederick Keys on Saturday night, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen tried to ease any tensions caused by his surprise assignment to the minor leagues — and the disapproval he and agent Scott Boras aired publicly.
"Nobody would be happy to get sent down when you're feeling great and up there pitching a great game," Chen said through interpreter Louis Chao on Saturday at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
"We talked, me and [Orioles manager] Buck [Showalter], we talked and I accepted it. I was disappointed, but I accepted the decision because … I believe the team had good reason. After I got sent down here, I think that we better just leave it in the past."
Chen pitched a season-high eight scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, and the following day, was sent to the minors to accommodate outfielder Chris Parmelee. Parmelee, who was signed as a minor league free agent in January, had an opt-out clause in his contract that forced the team to promote him to the majors on June 16.
The Orioles optioned Chen with the intention of having him rest a bit, stay on schedule with Saturday's brief outing for the Keys, and retake his spot in the rotation on Friday against the Cleveland Indians. He also missed the Toronto Blue Jays, who have hit him hard in his career and have crushed left-handers this season.
But the move upset Chen and Boras. A 16-game winner who posted a 3.54 ERA in 2014, Chen's 2.89 ERA was the best among Orioles starters in 2015. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 of 13 starts. Chen used his seldom-used social media accounts Monday night to say, in English, that he was in "excellent physical shape" and "disappointed my routine is being interrupted."
Boras said Tuesday that the roster move was "grossly irregular."
Chen acknowledged Saturday that Toronto has had success against him, but said it didn't concern him and that he didn't regret making his online statements.
"We've all got emotions, and the reason that I tweeted that is only because I wanted to make a point that I was healthy and ready to pitch," he said. "I don't worry about anything between me and the Orioles offices."
It didn't look like his routine suffered much as he made quick work of the Wilmington Blue Rocks in his three innings.
Chen struck out second baseman Carlos Garcia swinging on three fastballs, and worked around a two-out double on a hanging off-speed pitch to get out of an 11-pitch first inning cleanly.
He needed 11 more pitches to get through a perfect second inning with a pair of groundouts and a fly ball that went to the warning track, maybe kept in the yard by the wind.
Then, after opening the third inning striking out left fielder Logan Moon looking at a breaking ball, he retired his final two batters and gave way to right-hander David Hess — and the rain. Chen allowed just the one hit on 35 pitches, 25 of which were strikes. He struck out two and walked none.
A light drizzle began just as Chen finished his third inning, and the game was suspended after four innings.
Still, the robust crowd in Frederick got its money's worth. The fans were denied postgame fireworks, but saw a major leaguer in Chen, plus the traveling Cowboy Monkey Rodeo performance in the outfield during the initial rain delay.
Chen joked — in English — that it reminded him of Sarasota, Fla., with its passionate fans and rain.
"I don't really see anything much different," Chen said. "The fans are very passionate here, and my teammates, they play really great. The thing that I feel is that the fans are really passionate here. That's the things that's special."
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