Jiménez: "I have a lot of faith that things change" (O's down 5-2)

HOUSTON - Ubaldo Jiménez is back in the Orioles bullpen tonight, unsure if his latest demotion will bring better results when he's on the mound. Unsure exactly when he'll get on a mound.

This is a confusing time for Jiménez, who says that his mechanics aren't an issue this season. If not, where did he go wrong?

Asked whether he can work on anything specific, Jiménez replied, "Not really, because I don't think my mechanics were bad. I was just getting hit. That's pretty much what happened."

Jiménez has been sent to the bullpen in previous seasons since he signed with the Orioles, making three relief appearances in 2014 and four in 2016. He worked three scoreless innings in Boston on May 3 following Kevin Gausman's ejection.

"In years before, I really didn't have time to work on things," he said. "It was just that when I got back I was able to do what I was supposed to do. But in the bullpen you have less time to work on things than when you're starting, because when you're starting you know what you're supposed to do each day. In the bullpen, you have to get ready to pitch at any given time.

"The only thing I can think is that it's baseball. Sometimes, you go through tough times and you don't even know what (happened). That's why I never put my head down. Things change. It's a part of baseball. You're going to have good times and you're going to have bad times. You just have to keep your head up and keep moving forward."

Jiménez said his latest role change isn't any different than the previous ones.

"It's always a tough time, but it is what it is," he said. "I know I wasn't able to do what I was supposed to do and I have to move on from that. I have to find a way to help the team any way I can and get back."

What also stays the same is the discussion in manager Buck Showalter's office before another starter is inserted into the rotation.

"They just explained that they had to find a way to have someone who could do obviously better," Jiménez said. "That's how it went down."

Jiménez dismissed a reporter's suggestion that he might be tipping off his pitches.

"No, I don't think so," he said. "I was making bad pitches. Sometimes, I would start the game off good and then in the fifth innings I just gave up a couple homers with runners on base.

"I have no doubt that I'll be able to work my way back, no matter however it is or wherever it is. I have no doubt. I have a lot of faith that things change."

The Orioles just couldn't wait any longer.

"You'd almost rather it be mechanical, but I think the consistency of his command has been a challenge," Showalter said. "I could sit here and break down some things he does a little unconventionally, but they've worked for him at times. I don't think at this stage, as many things as you try to tweak, sometimes it's mental and emotional, too. You've just got to get to where you're waiting for something good to happen instead of the other way around.

"When you're making good pitches and they're getting hit, that can kind of weigh on your mind a little bit."

The Orioles made another roster move earlier today by recalling left-hander Donnie Hart from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning lefty Jayson Aquino to the Tides. The transaction served two purposes.

"Donnie, his time is up," Showalter said. "If you remember why we had to send him out, we needed some pitchers and he had pitched two or three days in a row. Give him some time down there. And Aquino needs to get back starting. It will be good for Jayson. And good for Donnie.

"Donnie's sister just had a baby. That was something that was going on. And his grandfather passed away. There are some things going on in his life, too."

Hart made good use of his brief tenure with the Tides, his first Triple-A experience after coming up last year from Double-A Bowie. He made three appearances and tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings without a walk.

"You actually can kind of semi-work on some things down there," Showalter said. "The big thing is he was so good last year and has been some this year, but his fastball command has kind of gotten away from him a little bit. Something he really wanted to work on in his outings down there."

"It was good," said Hart, who arrived at Minute Maid Park this afternoon and went around the clubhouse shaking hands with teammates before changing out of his street clothes. "You don't want to say take a step back, catch your breath, but it's different not pitching in front of a lot of people. Your focus level is higher, I think, just because you've got to remind yourself that you're still trying to get outs.

"It was good. I almost went two innings the first outing, so that was good. I got my pitch count up there to like 35, I think. And the next two times I think I threw 10-15 pitches. That was it. So that was good."

Left-handers were 5-for-38 with 11 strikeouts against Hart last season, but they're 8-for-26 with eight strikeouts in 2017.

"I think the numbers are kind of worse than how it really looked," he said. "I can probably go back and count five or six infield hits off lefties. It was one of those things where balls were finding holes.

"I went down there and worked on slider and fastball command and made sure it was all there and still had it, and that's one of the things I was really good at last year was making hitters feel like they were on their heels the entire AB, trying to cruise fastballs between them and the plate. And that's one thing I'm going to have to get back to is doing that, because that's what gives me a lot of success."

Hart wasn't assured by the Orioles that he'd return after the required 10 days. It just worked out that way.

"Honestly, that wasn't for me to decide," he said. "We talked about some things in there when it happened. We went from there and they were going to watch and I knew they were going to be watching when I pitched. It was a matter of just going down there and doing what I was told to do and if they felt like I did the right thing and made the right steps, I'd be back here."

Update: The Astros scored twice off Wade Miley in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Jose Altuve had an RBI double after George Springer's leadoff single and he scored on Carlos Correa's infield hit.

Update II: The Orioles got a run back in the third inning on Caleb Joseph's two-out walk and singles by Joey Rickard and Welington Castillo. Castillo, batting second for the first time in his career, delivered while behind 0-2 in the count.

Update III: Springer hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fourth inning to give Houston a 4-1 lead. The ball traveled an estimated 447 feet to left field.

Update IV: Chris Davis greeted reliever Tony Sipp with a leadoff triple in the seventh inning, his first since 2013, and scored on James Hoyt's wild pitch to reduce the lead to 4-2.

Miley allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings, with three walks, two strikeouts and a home run. He threw 100 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Update V: Tyler Wilson was charged with a run in the seventh without recording an out.

Altuve singled and stole second base, Correa singled and Altuve scored when Rickard overran the ball. The run was earned because Evan Gattis followed with a double.

Richard Bleier entered with runners on second and third and no outs, and he prevented the Astros from building on a 5-2 lead.