masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgRule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty is leading off and starting in left field tonight. Mark Reynolds is at first base.

For the Orioles:
Ryan Flaherty LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Wilson Betemit 3B
Chris Davis DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Robert Andino 2B

Wei-Yin Chen LHP

For the Rangers:
Ian Kinsler 2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Josh Hamilton LF
Adrian Beltre DH
Michael Young 1B
Nelson Cruz RF
Yorvit Torrealba C
Brandon Snyder 3B
Craig Gentry CF

Colby Lewis RHP

Last night’s game…Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty is leading off and starting in left field tonight. Mark Reynolds is at first base.

For the Orioles:
Ryan Flaherty LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Wilson Betemit 3B
Chris Davis DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Robert Andino 2B

Wei-Yin Chen LHP

For the Rangers:
Ian Kinsler 2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Josh Hamilton LF
Adrian Beltre DH
Michael Young 1B
Nelson Cruz RF
Yorvit Torrealba C
Brandon Snyder 3B
Craig Gentry CF

Colby Lewis RHP

Last night’s game featured back-to-back home runs by both teams – Beltre and Hamilton for Texas in the third inning, and Hardy and Markakis in the eighth inning for the Orioles. It hadn’t occurred in an Orioles game since Sept. 19, 2009 – Boston’s J.D. Drew and Brian Anderson, and Baltimore’s Ty Wigginton and Felix Pie.

The Orioles have allowed double-digit runs in consecutive games for the first time since July 7-8, 2011.

Wieters has hit safely in nine straight games (.342/.419/.579), one shy of his career-long hitting streak on May 8-21, 2011.

Hardy has reached safely in 14 of his last 15 games (.299/.314/.582) since April 22. He’s registered three straight multi-hit games. Hardy has gone 10-for-16 since Sunday, raising his season average from .187 to .244.

Flaherty worked out behind the plate before batting practice, taking throws from bench coach John Russell while crouching, and firing the ball to first base to simulate a pickoff attempt. I guess it’s confirmed that he’s the emergency catcher, as most of us suspected.