masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles reliever Troy Patton is eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 27, but that’s no longer a realistic target date.

Patton said in a text message tonight that it’s been a little slower to get the swelling out of his sprained right ankle than he anticipated. He still hasn’t been cleared to run or throw while rehabbing at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, and he just got into the pool for the first time today.

Manager Buck Showalter has wanted a second left-hander in the…Orioles reliever Troy Patton is eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 27, but that’s no longer a realistic target date.

Patton said in a text message tonight that it’s been a little slower to get the swelling out of his sprained right ankle than he anticipated. He still hasn’t been cleared to run or throw while rehabbing at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, and he just got into the pool for the first time today.

Manager Buck Showalter has wanted a second left-hander in the bullpen for months, and the urgency to trade for J.C. Romero increased after Patton showed up at Camden Yards last Monday with the ankle injury, which he sustained in his parking garage.

Showalter is still down to one left-hander, and Patton may not return until after rosters expand on Sept. 1. The Orioles could be forced to wait for him or select reliever Zach Phillips’ contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Phillips hasn’t allowed a run in 14 of his last 17 appearances.

As for tonight’s game, the Orioles gave Miguel Gonzalez a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Nate McLouth’s two-out double and Adam Jones’ RBI single.

Right fielder Nelson Cruz leaped for McLouth’s ball at the fence and missed it by about 10 feet. First baseman Mitch Moreland reached for Jones’ soft liner and had it deflect off his glove and roll into shallow right.

Ryan Dempster could sue for non-support.

Jones has 63 RBIs to break a tie with Matt Wieters for the team lead. Chris Davis has a career-high 60.

Update: Dylan Bundy went six innings for Double-A Bowie tonight at Richmond, allowing two runs and five hits, walking one, striking out four and surrendering one home run. He threw 97 pitches, 63 for strikes.

Bundy’s fastball touched 97 mph in the sixth inning, according to a tweet from the Baysox.

Update II: The Rangers used four singles and a walk to take a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning.

Gonzalez gave up three runs in his last three starts combined. The Rangers matched that total in the fourth.

Update III: Nelson Cruz doubled to score another run in the fifth, and Gonzalez’s pitch count rose to 101 while Kevin Gregg warmed in the bullpen.

Gonzalez’s streak of quality starts ends at three.

Update IV: Gregg and Matt Lindstrom each tossed a scoreless inning, but J.C. Romero gave up a run in the eighth in the Orioles’ 5-1 loss to the Rangers.

Romero has allowed three runs (two earned) in three innings with the Orioles. He also let an inherited runner score while giving up Prince Fielder’s tie-breaking, two-run shot on Friday.

The Orioles fall to 42-17 when scoring first.