BALTIMORE (AP) -The Baltimore Orioles expanded their pitching staff to 13 players Tuesday, recalling Garrett Olson and Rob McCrory from Triple-A Norfolk after a stretch in which the team played four games in three days.
Olson started Tuesday night’s game against Tampa Bay and McCrory was sent to the bullpen. To make room on the roster, the Orioles optioned infielder Brandon Fahey to Norfolk and designated right-hander Greg Aquino for assignment.
Baltimore needed additional arms after a four-day stretch against the Chicago White Sox that included a rainout, a day-night doubleheader and an 11-inning game Monday that was suspended by rain.
“Obviously, the decision was really made (by) the recent events of the road trip, the split doubleheader, the travel, the rainouts and all those kind of things,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.
Olson was 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA in four starts with Norfolk and 1-3 with a 7.79 ERA in seven career major league starts, all of which came last year. McCrory, 0-2 with a 1.80 ERA with the Tides, earned a shot in the big leagues for the first time.
“Honestly, it was a shock. It really was,” he said. “There were a lot of guys in Triple-A throwing really well and had big league experience.”
He immediately called his wife in Mississippi, who intended to watch Tuesday’s game with her father and both of McCrory’s parents. There’s no guarantee he will pitch, but the right-hander will certainly be in the bullpen.
“I think the biggest thing for me is walking out there in uniform in a big league stadium tonight. I can’t imagine how it’s going to feel. It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “…It’s something you dream of your whole life and it finally came true.”
McCrory underwent ligament replacement surgery in 2005 and returned with a fastball that regularly registers in the upper 90s. He served as a closer in Norfolk but will probably be a late-innings reliever with Baltimore.
Fahey batted .200 in 15 games with the Orioles, and Aquino was 0-0 with a 14.21 ERA in six appearances. He is out of options and can declare himself a free agent, but Trembley hopes the pitcher decides to hone his game at Norfolk.
“The times that he did pitch, he didn’t show good enough command. Secondly, I didn’t pitch him enough, which may have factored into it,” Trembley said.
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