BALTIMORE (AP) -The Baltimore Orioles filled out their bullpen Wednesday, replacing injured closer George Sherrill by purchasing the contract of right-hander Kam Mickolio from Triple-A Norfolk.
The 24-year-old Mickolio was obtained in the February trade that sent pitcher Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners. He had a 1.50 ERA with two saves in 15 games at Norfolk after being promoted from Double-A Bowie on July 7.
Mickolio learned of the promotion Tuesday night and arrived before the Orioles faced the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. He was justifiably excited about his pending major league debut.
“I’m still trying to figure out how to control my emotions right now,” he said. “I was fairly surprised when I got the call.”
With Sherrill on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, Jim Johnson will get first shot at being the closer in his absence. But manager Dave Trembley didn’t want to assign one pitcher to the role.
“It will depend on the situation,” Trembley said. “Obviously Johnson is a guy that figures very prominently into getting those opportunities, but in all honesty I don’t really want to get locked in to naming a closer on this team while Sherrill is out.”
Sherrill was placed on the DL on Tuesday. He was extended for 2 1-3 innings in the All-Star game because the AL ran short of pitchers, but Sherrill and the Orioles said that had nothing to do with the injury.
On Wednesday, All-Star manager Terry Francona said in the Boston clubhouse that he handled Sherrill with care.
“I said something to George, I think it was after an inning and a third. ‘Can you go back out for another?’ He said ‘I’ll go out all night.’ And he meant it,” Francona said. “Now obviously, we weren’t going to do that. But I think he threw 24, 25 pitches.”
Francona added, “I don’t think we were disrespectful or ignorant of him. I do understand that now he’s on the DL. So I called him.”
To make room for Mickolio on the 40-man roster, the Orioles moved pitcher Matt Albers (shoulder) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.
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