masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIf anyone truly believed on opening day that Donnie Hart would be getting big outs for the Orioles in late August as their left-handed specialist, they also must have thought that he’d be sharing a bullpen with Parker Bridwell, Francisco Pena would be the backup catcher and Ariel Miranda would be trade bait.
The Orioles have been full of surprises this year.
Hart was instrumental in one of the biggest plays from last night’s 4-3 win over the Nationals, fielding Bryce Harper’s comebacker in…

If anyone truly believed on opening day that Donnie Hart would be getting big outs for the Orioles in late August as their left-handed specialist, they also must have thought that he’d be sharing a bullpen with Parker Bridwell, Francisco Pena would be the backup catcher and Ariel Miranda would be trade bait.

The Orioles have been full of surprises this year.

Hart was instrumental in one of the biggest plays from last night’s 4-3 win over the Nationals, fielding Bryce Harper’s comebacker in the eighth inning and firing to second base to get Daniel Murphy, who led off with a double and broke for third on contact.

Murphy tried to get back. Hart didn’t hesitate, making a perfect throw with little margin for error.

But let’s get back to Hart being on the mound to start the eighth inning in a one-run game. Left-handers were 1-for-15 against him and manager Buck Showalter displayed the confidence to summon his rookie specialist, making major league appearance No. 8.

Hart still hasn’t allowed a run in 7 1/3 innings. He still hasn’t thrown single pitch at the Triple-A level, the Orioles plucking him twice from Double-A Bowie.

“We’ve been looking at him for a couple years now,” Showalter said. “He’s changed arm angles through it. He’s a guy that’s caught my eye and the description of him by our people in the minor leagues caught my eye, more importantly. We’ll see.

“The way we are in the bullpen right now without Darren (O’Day), every out we can get to keep guys from getting overtaxed, we have to take that chance. We’re going to have to have someone to do that job if we’re going to get where we’re going to get and there’s only one way to find out.”

We learned a little more about Hart last night.

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* Zach Britton just offered more confirmation about himself, retiring the side in order in the ninth with strikeouts of Danny Espinosa and Trea Turner to record his 38th save. He had faced only one batter since Aug. 14. We also know he was rested.

Britton tied Jose Mesa (1995) for the fourth-most saves in as many chances to start a season in major league history, according to STATS.

* Jonathan Schoop hit his 20th home run to tie Robert Alomar (1996) for the most by an Orioles second baseman in club history.

Schoop has homered in back-to-back games for the second time this season and is 8-for-21 during a six-game hitting streak.

The Orioles are 38-10 during Schoop’s career when he homers.

* Harper went 0-for-3 with a walk last night, flying out twice and hitting the comebacker.

Harper is 10-for-57 (.175) with two doubles, one triple, one home run, three RBIs, 15 walks and 14 strikeouts against the Orioles. He’s 6-for-33 (.182) with two doubles, one home run, one RBI, three walks and 10 strikeouts at Camden Yards

* The Orioles are seeing another new pitcher tonight in Nationals right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, making his fifth major league start. He’s allowed 12 runs (11 earned) and 23 hits and struck out 26 batters in 22 2/3 innings since making his debut on July 19.

In his last two starts, both against the Braves, Lopez allowed three runs (two earned) and nine hits in 14 innings. He walked four batters and struck out 13.

Right-handers are batting .368/.442/.500 against Lopez and left-handers are batting .180/.250/.340.

Kevin Gausman is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two career starts against the Nationals, allowing 10 runs and 16 hits in 10 innings. Wilson Ramos is 2-for-3 with a home run.

Gausman 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.062 WHIP in nine home starts and 0-9 with a 5.32 ERA and 1.552 WHIP in 12 road starts.

Gausman is 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA in four August starts.

* The Orioles pushed back T.J. McFarland’s third rehab start to last night in case they needed to rush him to Baltimore over the weekend due to their urgent need for a long reliever.

Is he ready?

McFarland allowed three runs and six hits last night in two innings with Bowie. He threw 46 pitches and didn’t come back out for the third as he returns from a knee injury.

McFarland made two starts at Single-A Frederick and surrendered five runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. He’s served up three home runs in three outings.

Showalter has noted that McFarland is fine physically and his velocity is good, but he’s going to want results. He’s demanded them of other pitchers on rehab assignments.

* Hyun Soo Kim caught Ben Revere’s fly ball last night to end the fourth inning and fired it back to the infield as teammates headed to the dugout.

I’ve seen Kim do it on other occasions this season when I’ve been paying attention. I thought maybe he’s forgetting the number of outs, except that he played quarterback after snatching Harper’s fly ball to conclude the fifth, hitting Adam Jones in stride, and again heaved the ball back to the infield after catcher Ryan Zimmerman’s fly ball to end the sixth.

I’d jog to the mound and jam the ball in the opposing pitcher’s glove, but that’s just me.

If you were keeping score at home, you know that Kim also caught Anthony Rendon’s fly ball to end the first inning. Weird, right?

* Norfolk outfielder Dariel Alvarez has nine hits in his last 13 at-bats, with three doubles and five runs scored. His 36 doubles this season are the second-most in the International League.

I’m assuming that Alvarez will be included on the expanded September roster.

* Fans ask me about the call-up list, but Showalter hasn’t revealed any names beyond guys who could come off the disabled list and catcher Caleb Joseph, who was optioned yesterday to Norfolk.

Joseph could use regular at-bats to get out of his offensive funk, though Showalter always will value his defense and ability to work with the pitchers. And at least Joseph can hang out with brother Corban, easing some of the disappointment over his demotion.