masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have been shut out in two straight games and they haven’t homered in their last five, so manager Buck Showalter is making a few changes tonight.

Nick Johnson is starting at first base and Ryan Flaherty is starting in left field, as Showalter goes heavy with left-handed hitters against Mets right-hander Dillon Gee.

For the Orioles:
Brian Roberts 2B
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Nick Johnson 1B
Wilson Betemit 3B
Ryan Flaherty LF
Brian Matusz…The Orioles have been shut out in two straight games and they haven’t homered in their last five, so manager Buck Showalter is making a few changes tonight.

Nick Johnson is starting at first base and Ryan Flaherty is starting in left field, as Showalter goes heavy with left-handed hitters against Mets right-hander Dillon Gee.

For the Orioles:
Brian Roberts 2B
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Nick Johnson 1B
Wilson Betemit 3B
Ryan Flaherty LF
Brian Matusz LHP

For the Mets:
Andres Torres CF
Jordany Valdespin 2B
David Wright 3B
Scott Hairston RF
Vinny Rottino LF
Ike Davis 1B
Justin Turner SS
Mike Nickeas C
Dillon Gee RHP

None of the Orioles on the current 25-man roster have faced Gee. Endy Chavez, on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, is 1-for-4 with a double against him.

Gee has recorded six straight quality starts. Left-handers are batting .289 against him, compared to .229 by right-handers.

Down on the farm, Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Lew Ford is batting .380 (19-for-50) with two homers and 14 RBIs in June. Ford, 35, is batting .682 (15-for-22) with runners in scoring position, and he’s 9-for-11 with RISP and two outs.

Tides outfielder Jamie Hoffmann is batting .367 (18-for-49) with three home runs and eight RBIs this month.

Left-hander J.C. Romero hasn’t allowed a run in 12 appearances since he joined Norfolk on May 24. Opponents are 3-for-30 against him.

Jamie Moyer, starting tonight for the Tides, made his major league debut on June 16, 1986. Buffalo’s starter tonight, Dylan Owen, was born on July 12, 1986.