masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – My eyes weren’t deceiving me. Blue Jays manager John Farrell ordered an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero in the fourth inning with runners on second and third and two outs.

In a spring training game.

Luke Scott was robbed of a hit on a diving stop by second baseman Aaron Hill.

Michael Gonzalez struck out two in a scoreless fourth inning, throwing six of 11 pitches for strikes. Kevin Gregg walked a batter and struck out one in the fifth, throwing seven of 15 for…SARASOTA, Fla. – My eyes weren’t deceiving me. Blue Jays manager John Farrell ordered an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero in the fourth inning with runners on second and third and two outs.

In a spring training game.

Luke Scott was robbed of a hit on a diving stop by second baseman Aaron Hill.

Michael Gonzalez struck out two in a scoreless fourth inning, throwing six of 11 pitches for strikes. Kevin Gregg walked a batter and struck out one in the fifth, throwing seven of 15 for strikes.

Nice stat from Orioles media relations manager Jeff Lantz: The 13 hitters on last year’s opening day roster had a combined 896 home runs. The four new guys – Vladimir Guerrero, Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds and J. J. Hardy – have a combined 950. The 13 hitters this year have 1,349.

Manager Buck Showalter said he feels “real good about where we are.”

He meant more than Sarasota.

“We had a list of things we wanted to accomplish,” he said. “We had some challenges health-wise, but we’re back on track now. We weren’t fully expecting that. If you had told me we were going to be where we are physically going over to Tampa, I would have signed up for it in blood.”

Craig Tatum is leaving the team Wednesday night and flying home to Mississippi for the birth of his daughter, Lanier.

“If everything goes well, he can be back shortly thereafter,” Showalter said. “I made sure that it was something the doctor said to do and it wasn’t dictated by us. He said it’s ready to hatch. Time to come out.”

Today’s attendance: 5,522. The Orioles drew 115,506 fans this spring, which are franchise and Ed Smith Stadium records. The 1994 White Sox drew 115,372 with Michael Jordan.

Josh Rupe just gave up his first earned run this spring, on Adam Lind’s home run in the seventh inning. We’re tied at 4.