masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have a red-hot hitter sitting on their bench tonight.

Nate McLouth is 4-for-8 with two doubles, three RBIs, three walks, five runs scored and three stolen bases in his last two games. He’s 8-for-18 with two doubles, four walks, eight runs scored and four stolen bases in his last five games.

McLouth has really thrived atop the order, but he’s not in tonight’s lineup against the Oakland Athletics. Nick Markakis is batting first. Nolan Reimold is starting in left field.

Manager…The Orioles have a red-hot hitter sitting on their bench tonight.

Nate McLouth is 4-for-8 with two doubles, three RBIs, three walks, five runs scored and three stolen bases in his last two games. He’s 8-for-18 with two doubles, four walks, eight runs scored and four stolen bases in his last five games.

McLouth has really thrived atop the order, but he’s not in tonight’s lineup against the Oakland Athletics. Nick Markakis is batting first. Nolan Reimold is starting in left field.

Manager Buck Showalter is breaking out his right-handed lineup against A’s left-hander Tommy Milone.

McLouth is 1-for-9 against southpaws this year, and he’s a career .221 hitter against them. He’s batting .333 against right-handers this year, and he’s a career .259 hitter against them.

Down on the farm, Jake Arrieta has allowed two hits in five scoreless innings in his first start for Triple-A Norfolk, with no walks and six strikeouts. He’s thrown 73 pitches, 43 for strikes.

The Orioles fully expect Arrieta to dominate Triple-A hitters. They’re working on the mental side of his game. His stuff plays.

Henry Urrutia homered to center field in his first home at-bat for Double-A Bowie.

Former Orioles first baseman Joe Mahoney hit his first major league home run tonight for the Miami Marlins.

Update: Arrieta came out after six scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, walked none and struck out eight. He threw 94 pitches, 54 for strikes.

The Tides lead 9-0 in the seventh. Danny Valencia hit a three-run homer.