masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles made the anticipated roster move today, reinstating second baseman Brian Roberts from the paternity leave list and optioning infielder Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk.

Roberts had to be placed on the roster today. His three days were up. And Valencia was the obvious choice to go back down, since the Orioles didn’t figure to go with an expanded bench. They already lost their designated hitter on this trip.

Manager Buck Showalter indicated over the weekend that the roster could…The Orioles made the anticipated roster move today, reinstating second baseman Brian Roberts from the paternity leave list and optioning infielder Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk.

Roberts had to be placed on the roster today. His three days were up. And Valencia was the obvious choice to go back down, since the Orioles didn’t figure to go with an expanded bench. They already lost their designated hitter on this trip.

Manager Buck Showalter indicated over the weekend that the roster could be tweaked again before the Orioles return home. For now, they’re keeping five starters and seven relievers.

Roberts, 35, is batting .245/.283/.357 in 30 games this season. His wife, Diana, had their first child – a boy, Jax Isaac – on Friday.

Valencia is batting .216/.256/.500 (16-for-74) with five homers and 10 RBIs in 25 games for the Orioles this season. He had a double and two-run homer Sunday afternoon against the Mariners after enduring an 0-for-23 slump.

Down on the farm, Wilson Betemit is 1-for-2 with a double, RBI, walk and strikeout for the Gulf Coast League Orioles in the first game of his injury-rehab assignment. The RBI double came against GCL Red Sox right-hander Keivin Heras. And that’s not another typo. It’s spelled “Keivin.”

Update: Betemit was lifted for a pinch-runner after going 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, walk and strikeout.

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