masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Chris Tillman received a cortisone injection today in his right shoulder. Tillman will be shut down for the next few days.
“We’re in good shape there,” Showalter said after a 6-5 loss to the Pirates. “I know they’re encouraged where he is and how he’s feeling right now. So we’ll see in a couple days how he feels if he can get back on the bump.”
Pedro Álvarez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the designated hitter….

BRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Chris Tillman received a cortisone injection today in his right shoulder. Tillman will be shut down for the next few days.

“We’re in good shape there,” Showalter said after a 6-5 loss to the Pirates. “I know they’re encouraged where he is and how he’s feeling right now. So we’ll see in a couple days how he feels if he can get back on the bump.”

Pedro Álvarez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the designated hitter. He’s scheduled to play right field in Friday morning’s B game on the Camden Yards replica field.

“He had a couple pretty good swings. I was surprised,” Showalter said. “We talked about it, he wanted to come over. It was a good start for him.”

Pedro-Alvarez-swing-white-sidebar.jpgÁlvarez won’t play in Thursday night’s home game against the Phillies.

“I’ve got some other people who need at-bats tomorrow,” Showalter said.

Ubaldo Jiménez was charged with three runs and walked five batters in 4 2/3 innings. The last two runs scored after he left the game with his pitch count at 76.

“Good,” Showalter said. “Got him to the 75-pitchish mark. That’s big this early to get there in almost five innings. It’s good. Some wind-blown balls, a tough day.

“I’m happy where he is, probably leading getting where you need to get this early. That kind of allows you once you get that arm strength built up to work on some other things. That was good to see.”

Zach Stewart allowed two inherited runners to score in the fifth and three of his own, the big blow a Phil Gosselin grand slam. Stewart hadn’t permitted a run in his first five outings.

“He had a ball that’s probably an out that blew out of the ballpark,” Showalter said. “It’s like I said yesterday, we’re going through a little period with some of the pitchers right now, not quite as crisp. You see the velocity’s kind of … it’s not so much they creep down as it is the crispness and finish on the pitches isn’t quite there like it was early and will be again.”

Paul Janish has been on fire, with another RBI single today. He homered yesterday and also had a run-scoring single.

“Paulie can hit anybody’s fastball,” Showalter said. “He’s not just a pure … he’s a really good defensive player, but he had a good spring offensively last year. He’s put a lot of good swings on the ball down here in the spring after getting here a little late.”

Left-hander Chris Lee gets his first start on Thursday. He’s a candidate to replace Tillman in the rotation.

Asked what he wants to see from Lee, Showalter replied, “Just continue to impress.”

“It’s a good spot for him,” Showalter said. “I want to see him start from the get-go against (a solid lineup). Anytime you get a night game, there’s a little extra adrenaline for some reason. Facing an A lineup, guys are starting to run a little better lineups, especially as soon as the WBC gets over.”