MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles opened a 40-man roster spot Sunday when they outrighted infielder David Adams to Double-A Bowie.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the move wasn't related to another pending transaction, but he said the flexibility it created would help the club.
"I know the reason in which it was done at that time," Showalter said. "But I'm not going to broadcast it. It has nothing to do with a pending move that I'm aware of. But it does open up some possibilities … if you have somebody not on the roster that you want to bring up. It's always good to have that maneuverability, that's some of it. But why that timing? I know why. But [I] would be put on double-secret probation if I told."
The open spot would help if the Orioles need to add a reliever who isn't on the 40-man roster as the bullpen continues to recover from the effects of Thursday's doubleheader and back-to-back short outings by left-hander Wei-Yin Chen on Saturday and right-hander Miguel Gonzalez on Sunday.
Adams, who the Orioles claimed on outright waivers from the Cleveland Indians in March, opened the season with Triple-A Norfolk. He batted .214 with two home runs and eight RBIs for the Tides, while playing 15 of his 21 games at third base.
Adams, 26, had just two hits in his first 26 at-bats for Norfolk.
In a related move, the Orioles promoted infielder Buck Britton from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk to essentially take Adams' infield spot for the Tides.
Britton, the brother of Orioles left-hander Zach Britton, hit .344 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 28 games for Bowie before the promotion. He was 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday in his season debut with the Tides.
Left-hander Anthony Vasquez was transferred from Norfolk to Bowie. He was 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in 5 1/3 innings with the Tides.
Orioles lose challenge for first time
After winning their first two replay challenges this season, the Orioles finally lost one in Sunday's loss to the Twins.
Baltimore Orioles Insider
With runners at the corners in the seventh inning, Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki hit a liner that hit off the wall in left field, just out of Nelson Cruz's reach. Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy's relay throw was up the line and nearly got Jason Kubel at home plate, but home plate umpire Marcus Pattillo called Kubel safe on the play.
Showalter used his challenge to review the call. The replay review confirmed the call — meaning there was clear and convincing evidence that the initial call was correct — after 58 seconds.
Television replays showed that Kubel's left foot touched the plate just before Orioles catcher Matt Wieters made a sweeping tag.
Around the horn
South Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon lasted just three innings for Norfolk on Sunday, allowing eight runs and 11 hits in a 16-2 loss to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Before Sunday, Yoon (0-4) had allowed seven total runs (four earned) in his previous four starts, a span of 20 innings. … Right-hander Chris Tillman will start Tuesday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field after the Orioles' day off Monday. Tillman is 3-0 on the road this year, but he has a 5.21 ERA away from Camden Yards in those three starts. He is 1-2 with a 3.13 ERA in four career starts at Tropicana Field. … Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 1-for-5 performance Sunday. … The Orioles are 6-8 in day games this season, and they are 6-4 in the final game of a series.
eencina@baltsun.com
twitter.com/EddieInTheYard