masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgPORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter noted the progress today made by Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. One run allowed over two innings in both starts, but not a duplication.
“I thought he was a little better this time out,” Showalter said. “He can do a lot of things with the baseball. He’s presenting himself as advertised. I thought he was a little better today. That was good to see.
“He’s got good command of the fastball, works fast and can spin the ball. He’ll need all…

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter noted the progress today made by Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. One run allowed over two innings in both starts, but not a duplication.

“I thought he was a little better this time out,” Showalter said. “He can do a lot of things with the baseball. He’s presenting himself as advertised. I thought he was a little better today. That was good to see.

“He’s got good command of the fastball, works fast and can spin the ball. He’ll need all his weapons, but that’s part of who he is.”

The bullpen remains an option for Cortes, but the Orioles want to give him every chance to claim a spot in the rotation. They’re still learning about him, including whether he’s capable of pitching multiple times with limited rest.

Showalter-Media-Scrum-Sidebar.jpg“Roger (McDowell) and I talk about how he is on his work day,” Showalter said. “He’s going to tell you anything you want to hear right now, so you’ve got to be careful, but those are things you look for. Right now, we’re looking at him as a starter.”

Cortes has impressed Showalter and the staff as much for his attitude as his pitches.

“He’s got a lot of confidence and he’s not going to let an opportunity pass without letting it rip,” Showalter said. “He’s not going to be unaggressive or not trust himself or give them too much credit. I don’t think he’s going to be intimidated by the level.

“He’s probably been told a lot because of maybe the velocity, maybe the height, all the stuff, that you can’t do things, but he just keeps doing it at every level he goes to. And now he’s going to get a chance to show us if he can do it here.”

A three-run seventh inning today propelled the Orioles to a 5-2 win over the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park.

Cedric Mullins doubled with one out and scored on a bases-loaded walk to DJ Stewart off right-hander Jaime Schultz. A wild pitch brought in another run and Anthony Santander’s popup into shallow right field enabled Austin Wynns to score.

Joely Rodriguez struck out two batters while retiring the side in order in the third. Perci Garner and Jesus Liranzo also retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth, respectively, but Rule 5 pick José Mesa Jr. allowed a run and three hits in the sixth.

Former Orioles first-round pick Brandon Snyder collected an RBI triple off Mesa. The damage could have been worst except Wynns showed off his arm again by throwing out Mallex Smith after a leadoff walk.

The tools behind the plate continue to attract the Orioles’ attention, though they could decide later to bring in a veteran catcher. There are a few of them on the market.

Mesa has surrendered four runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings in two appearances.

Liranzo was making his first appearance this spring.

“Happy to see Liranzo get out there,” Showalter said. “That was one of the highlights of the day for me. He was good.”

Rodriguez, the former Phillies left-hander, hasn’t allowed a run in three appearances covering three innings. He looks closer to his 2016 form than 2017, when he posted 6.33 ERAs with the Phillies and Triple-A Round Rock.

“A lot of times, you kind of try to take out any negatives in their track records and go, ‘OK.’ You try a fresh start with all of them,” Showalter said.

“I know talking with some people I know in Philadelphia, they always thought that potential was there for him. There was a lot of debate about whether or not to bring him back. He’s getting a good opportunity and so far he’s running with it.”

Jeff Ferrell escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh. Tim Melville worked the last two innings for the save, stranding two runners in the eighth and retiring the side in order in the ninth. He’s made a nice impression in camp.

Drew Dosch let a ground ball go through his legs to start the eighth, but Stewart threw out Michael Russell trying to advance to second. A single and walk followed, but no runs scored.

The game was delayed in the top of the seventh inning when Stewart’s backswing nailed catcher Nick Ciuffo in the head, opening a nasty cut. Ciuffo was down for several minutes and left the field on a cart.