masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles optioned reliever Stefan Crichton to Triple-A Norfolk this morning to make room for Alec Asher, who’s starting against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
Crichton’s stay was brief. The Orioles purchased his contract from Norfolk on Thursday and designated reliever Oliver Drake for assignment. Drake was traded to the Brewers.
The Orioles are back to having a seven-man bullpen.
Ryan Flaherty is making his first start today, replacing J.J. Hardy at shortstop. Flaherty is 3-for-9 with two home…

The Orioles optioned reliever Stefan Crichton to Triple-A Norfolk this morning to make room for Alec Asher, who’s starting against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Crichton’s stay was brief. The Orioles purchased his contract from Norfolk on Thursday and designated reliever Oliver Drake for assignment. Drake was traded to the Brewers.

The Orioles are back to having a seven-man bullpen.

Flaherty-orange-throw-sidebar.jpgRyan Flaherty is making his first start today, replacing J.J. Hardy at shortstop. Flaherty is 3-for-9 with two home runs against Marco Estrada.

The Orioles join Major League Baseball in honoring Jackie Robinson by wearing No. 42 jerseys.

For the Orioles
Seth Smith RF
Adam Jones CF
Manny Machado 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Mark Trumbo DH
Welington Castillo C
Hyun Soo Kim LF
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Ryan Flaherty SS

Alec Asher RHP

Schoop and Hardy homered in the fifth inning last night. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the third time in the last 15 seasons that the Orioles’ middle infielders homered in the same inning.

It also happened September 5, 2013 against the White Sox (Brian Roberts and Hardy) and April 8, 2016 against the Rays (Schoop and Machado). All three occurred in the fifth inning.

On this date in 2000, Cal Ripken Jr. recorded his 3,000th career hit with a single off Twins right-hander Hector Carrasco in Minnesota.