Orioles turn up volume on intrasquad game

Chris Davis sent a fly ball over the fence in right-center field tonight, a high drive off southpaw Wade LeBlanc in the top of the first inning. Fans could be heard cheering, though none were planted in the seats. DJ Stewart crossed the plate ahead of Davis after his walk and they tapped spikes instead of fists or elbows.

Shoes are deemed safe.

Davis was introduced by Orioles public address announcer Ryan Wagner and walk-up music played as the first baseman reached the batter's box. The ball bounced back onto the field below a scoreboard that had both lineups posted on it, along with batting averages and OPS.

A fake game at Camden Yards had more of a real feel to it. But ghost defenders were replaced by a couple of phantom runs, reminding us that it's still intrasquad and rules are so relaxed, they should come with a vibrating recliner.

LeBlanc started for the team in white and Kohl Stewart for the orange. LeBlanc walked the first two batters in the top of the fifth and pitching coach Doug Brocail, wearing a mask, went to the mound and signaled for Cole Sulser.

Sulser struck out Renato Núñez and Davis, walked Chance Sisco and ran the count full to Stevie Wilkerson before striking him out on a high fastball to leave LeBlanc with four runs on his ledger and only two hits. LeBlanc walked four batters and struck out four.

Stewart was replaced by Shawn Armstrong after going four innings, the total laid out for him earlier in the day, and being charged with seven runs. Two were hung on him after manager Brandon Hyde halted the bottom of the first.

Tents were set up in the stands as dugout extenders for the home and visiting sides. They aren't here to block out the sun.

More safety measures that the Orioles are introducing while Major League Baseball tries to complete a 60-game regular season with more dire predictions for a second wave of COVID-19 in the fall and winter. If the first one actually subsides.

Davis already has a spot on the opening day roster, but Hyde and his staff are monitoring an assortment of competitions with the Baltimore side of camp holding 43 players.

"I think we've narrowed down to six or seven guys from a rotation standpoint, but I think we have a decision to make on three catchers for sure," Hyde said earlier today.

"We're still narrowing down ... Honestly, I don't want to jump to any conclusions on our roster when I don't know what's going to happen on a day-to-day basis. So I don't want to promise anybody anything because things can change so much, especially this year. So we're keeping all of our options open for this next week. I'm hoping that everybody's read to go on the 24th. But we still have six really games to play - three intrasquads, three exhibition games - and a couple days of workouts. So if I committed to, 'These are our five starters and we're definitely carrying two or three catchers,' I'd be lying because I honestly don't know."

Four utility candidates started tonight - Wilkerson at second base, Pat Valaika at shortstop and Andrew Velazquez in center field for the visitors and Dilson Herrera at first base for the hosts. Herrera led off the bottom of the second with a single into right field but was erased on Ryan Mountcastle's double play grounder.

Wilkerson lined a double into left field in the top of the fourth after LeBlanc hit Sisco and both runners scored on a single by Austin Wynns, who's engaged in his own competition.

"The versatility this year is definitely important, so I've been trying to get my reps in at just about every spot every day," Wilkerson said earlier today. "It's a tough sport. It don't matter what position you're playing. There's challenges at every spot. I think once you're acclimated to one, it takes a little bit of an adjustment period to get your legs underneath you to play the other. But I feel pretty right now in the sense of I don't feel like an outfielder, I don't feel like an infielder. I just feel like a baseball player."

Kohl Stewart ran into trouble in the bottom of the first after striking out leadoff hitter Austin Hays. Hanser Alberto singled and José Iglesias walked. But Stewart struck out - the fickle crowd roared - and Hyde rolled the inning after Pedro Severino reached on fielder's choice, leading to some confusion before players left the field.

Two runs were put on the board, leading to some confusion in the press box.

Cue Foo Fighters between innings.

"Learning to walk again ..."

Alberto isn't a model student, but he keeps getting on base anyway.

Stewart seems to have a job on opening day, but exactly what is to be determined.

"I think Kohl is still a candidate to be in our rotation, I think he's a candidate to be a long man, I think he's a candidate to come in after an opener. I think he's definitely a candidate to get a lot of innings this year," Hyde said.

"I'm looking forward to today. I'm hoping that Kohl continues to throw the way that he's been throwing, that we don't have any hiccups and is a big part of either our rotation or a long man in the bullpen when the season starts."

The Orioles selected the contracts of LeBlanc and Tommy Milone last night. LeBlanc is lined up as the No. 3 starter. Milone could be fourth or fifth or sent to the bullpen.

"It's two guys that have done this for a while now in the league," Hyde said. "It's very helpful. They've navigated through tough lineups before and I think some veteran experience not only on the mound but in the clubhouse is key and both of those guys, it's well known around the league how much those guys are respected and how professional they are. So adding both those guys is a big boost not only on the field but in our clubhouse."

Núñez flied to the left field track to strand Valaika, who walked, in the top of the third.

Cue Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now."

Pretty sure Jonathan Villar said the same thing every time he got on base.

Alberto had an RBI single off Stewart in the bottom of the third after Cedric Mullins walked and stole second base and Hays reached on a bunt hit. Hays and Alberto executed a double steal and Iglesias' bouncer to short increased the home team's lead to 4-2.

It could have been worse, but DJ Stewart raced toward the line and made a diving catch to rob Rio Ruiz. Stewart rose to his feet, bent at the waist and clutched his right side, but signaled with his glove that he was fine.

Kohl Stewart, who's been much sharper before tonight, surrendered two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on Mullins' grounder after back-to-back singles by Mountcastle and Bryan Holaday and Hays' single to right field. Davis cut off the throw and nailed Hays at second base.

The scoreboard showed the home team leading 7-4, which was at least close. I didn't trust the hit total because Hays' single in the fourth didn't register. Stewart had coughed up seven at that point.

Armstrong allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth. Alberto drew a leadoff walk and motored to third base when Núñez couldn't backhand Iglesias' sharp bouncer. Score it a double. The runners held on Ruiz's grounder to second, but Severino reached on a chopper past the mound to plate Alberto.

Herrera and Mountcastle struck out and Sulser came back out for a second inning, striking out Mason Williams and Valaika and walking Velazquez. Hyde is stretching him out.

Tanner Scott worked the bottom of the sixth inning.

Catcher Adley Rutschman sat in the home dugout tonight. So did Anthony Santander, though he wasn't in uniform.

Outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. hasn't made it back to camp.

Three beat writers had to leave it after the expiration of the media's two-hour access.