masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles made three roster moves before today’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, optioning outfielder Xavier Avery and pitchers Zach Clark and Mike Belfiore to Triple-A Norfolk. They will report to the Twin Lakes Park complex until the Tides’ season starts.

Avery went 2-for-11 with two RBIs in 12 games. He never had a chance to make the 25-man roster with an abundance of outfielders in camp.

Clark (UMBC) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings, and manager…BRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles made three roster moves before today’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, optioning outfielder Xavier Avery and pitchers Zach Clark and Mike Belfiore to Triple-A Norfolk. They will report to the Twin Lakes Park complex until the Tides’ season starts.

Avery went 2-for-11 with two RBIs in 12 games. He never had a chance to make the 25-man roster with an abundance of outfielders in camp.

Clark (UMBC) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings, and manager Buck Showalter has complimented him numerous times this spring.

Belfiore, the PTBNL in the Josh Bell trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowed two runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.

The Orioles have plenty of left-handed bullpen candidates in camp, including Troy Patton, Brian Matusz, Mark Hendrickson and Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland.

With today’s moves, the Orioles have 53 players at major league spring training, including 16 non-roster invitees. This is the second day that they’ve made cuts.

Note: Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman will pitch Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays in Sarasota. Showalter hasn’t named a starter yet. The game will air on MASN beginning at 1:05 p.m.

Jeremy Hellickson will start for the Rays.