masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDid you really think a season would pass without Mark Hendrickson wearing an Orioles uniform?

Hendrickson is heading to Boston and will have his contract purchased from Triple-A Norfolk. A corresponding move will be announced.

The Orioles need a fresh reliever after Zach Britton lasted only two-thirds of an inning and Brad Bergesen took a David Ortiz line drive off his right forearm.

Chris Jakubauskas has pitched the last two nights. Left-hander Pedro Viola warmed up and entered last…Did you really think a season would pass without Mark Hendrickson wearing an Orioles uniform?

Hendrickson is heading to Boston and will have his contract purchased from Triple-A Norfolk. A corresponding move will be announced.

The Orioles need a fresh reliever after Zach Britton lasted only two-thirds of an inning and Brad Bergesen took a David Ortiz line drive off his right forearm.

Chris Jakubauskas has pitched the last two nights. Left-hander Pedro Viola warmed up and entered last night’s game, though he didn’t throw an official pitch, after allowing three straight home runs the previous night.

Alfredo Simon is making his first start tonight since April 2009 and hasn’t gone more than 4 2/3 innings this season. Mitch Atkins starts tomorrow afternoon. The bullpen could come into play again.

Hendrickson is 2-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 games with the Tides, with 39 hits allowed, 12 walks, 22 strikeouts and six home runs in 47 innings. Opponents are batting .225 against him.

Left-handers are hitting .250 against Hendrickson. Right-handers are batting .214.

He missed two weeks with discomfort in his lower back. In his three appearances since being activated from the disabled list, he’s allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. His most recent appearance came Tuesday night, when he gave up an unearned run and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Hendrickson went four innings on May 23 and 3 1/3 on May 28, but hasn’t exceeded two since that date.

Last season, Hendrickson went 1-6 with a 5.26 ERA in 52 games for the Orioles, with 97 hits allowed in 75 1/3 innings. He finished ninth in the American League with 70 1/3 relief innings. Opponents batted .313 against him.

The Orioles signed Hendrickson to a minor league deal on Jan. 31, 2011. He wanted to be close to his York, Pa. home.

Hendrickson isn’t on the 40-man roster, but the Orioles have an open spot, so it’s an easy transaction. They just need to make room on the 25-man roster.

Viola could be optioned, with Hendrickson providing another left-hander for the bullpen. The club will check on Bergesen’s right arm.