masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgTriple-A Norfolk reliever Frank Mata didn’t enter tonight’s game in a save situation. Armando Gabino handled the last three innings, blanking Rochester along the way, for his first save. The Tides held on for a 2-1 victory.

Does this mean that Mata is headed to Baltimore as one of the bullpen replacements? It’s certainly fair to speculate, and we do a lot of it around here.

Mata, 26, signed in November as a minor league free agent after pitching for Double-A New Britain last year. He’s…Triple-A Norfolk reliever Frank Mata didn’t enter tonight’s game in a save situation. Armando Gabino handled the last three innings, blanking Rochester along the way, for his first save. The Tides held on for a 2-1 victory.

Does this mean that Mata is headed to Baltimore as one of the bullpen replacements? It’s certainly fair to speculate, and we do a lot of it around here.

Mata, 26, signed in November as a minor league free agent after pitching for Double-A New Britain last year. He’s 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA and eight saves in 18 games with the Tides. He hasn’t allowed a run in nine of his last 10 appearances, and hasn’t pitched since Friday.

Room would have to be created on the 40-man roster for Mata, who was a spring training invitee this year.

We’ll known for sure tomorrow, but I’ll submit his name as my guess.