Sucre arrives; Alberto is back; Hart departs; Orioles lose, then tie

SARASOTA, Fla.-What’s happening? – Mike Wright starts against the Boston Red Sox at jetBlue Park today at 1:05 p.m. He’ll be followed by Yefry Ramirez, who will throw multiple innings, manager Brandon Hyde said.

Catcher Jesus Sucre was cleared to travel from Venezuela, and he was scheduled to report to the Orioles on Friday.

Hyde is hoping Sucre can play within the week.

“I’m going to ask him what he’s been doing,” Hyde said. “I don’t even know, to be honest with you, how much game stuff he’s been doing. But I think realistically four or five days of catching sides and getting batting practice in, and we’ll evaluate from there if we feel like he’s game-ready.”

Nate Karns, who was scratched from Friday night’s start against the New York Yankees because of arm soreness, will throw a side session today or tomorrow. Karns said he felt fine.

Infielder Hanser Alberto, pictured above, who was lost on waivers to the San Francisco Giants a week ago, was claimed on waivers by the Orioles. Alberto was originally claimed from the New York Yankees on Jan. 11 and designated for assignment on Feb. 19 when left-hander Josh Osich was claimed on waivers from San Francisco.

“I think he’s a really good player,” Hyde said of Alberto. “I like him a lot. He’s just really, really steady, incredible energy in our locker room and the dugout. I’m excited to get him back into our camp.”

Donnie Hart was designated for assignment. Hart, was 2-0 with a 3.93 ERA in 93 appearances with the Orioles over the last three seasons. He was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk multiple times last season.

What’s happened?—Alex Cobb was pulled after he faced just six batters in the first. He allowed four runs and recorded just two outs as the Orioles lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 10-5, in the first game of a split-squad doubleheader.

“I think he was trying to protect me from what was going on out there from me,” Cobb said. “Obviously, unraveled a little bit. I was expecting to stay out there and go and up/down. I don’t know the conversation they had on this. I went to the bullpen afterwards and finished up. The plan was to go two, obviously, but the outing didn’t go according to plan, so I guessed they called an audible on it.”

It was Cobb’s first Grapefruit League start for the Orioles. Last year, he signed too late to make any starts before the regular season.

“I just didn’t want to extend him,” Hyde said. “I didn’t’ want to stretch it any further than it went.”

Mychal Givens allowed a run on two hits in his first spring appearance. Givens recorded just two outs, both on strikeouts.

“Just hasn’t been out there, getting his feet wet,” Hyde said. “I thought it was a productive first time out for him as well.”

Hunter Harvey pitched a scoreless fifth, walking one and striking out two.

“Looked a little bit more relaxed this time than he did last time,” Hyde said. “The adrenaline was so high. He was pitching a little bit more.”

Chance Sisco hit his fourth home run of the spring. He has nine RBIs, and Richie Martin was 2-for-3, and is hitting .500.

In the second half of the split-squad doubleheader, the Orioles and New York Yankees played to a 2-2 tie.

John Means started and threw two hitless innings. Austin Hays homered.

What’s up with?—Ryan McKenna. He’s in his first major league camp and had a spectacular first half of the season, hitting .377 for High-A Frederick. At Double-A Bowie, McKenna hit .239 in the season’s second half.

McKenna got his confidence back when he hit .344 for Glendale of the Arizona Fall League.

“It’s definitely huge,” McKenna said. “I think it kind of gave me back a little bit of confidence to go forward and be like, ‘Hey, I can compete with these guys.’ It’s one thing to do well in A-ball, and then transition to Double-A. That’s where it gets more serious, and I think transitioning to the AFL and having success there was huge for me.”

What’s the word? “If you go to a get a drink with Josh Rogers on the mound, you better have your head up and your eyes on the field, or you’re going to miss about 10 pitches. The tempo is unbelievable.”-Hyde on how quickly Rogers works.

What’s what? Because Cobb didn’t complete two innings and Givens didn’t complete his inning, Hyde used two imports from minor league camp, Tanner Chleborad and Matt Wotherspoon.

Chleborad and Wotherspoon worked a full inning after they finished innings for Cobb and Givens.

Because of the split-squad games, Hyde needed additional pitchers, and then Hart, who was also scheduled to pitch, was designated for assignment.

Chleborad retired all four batters he faced and Wotherspoon allowed a run on two hits and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings.

“Those guys that came in for us did a great job and threw strikes and were aggressive,” Hyde said. “Hats off to those guys for helping us out.”

What’s the number? 9. That’s the number of times Donnie Hart was recalled from Norfolk last season. Some were only a day or two, and he only pitched in 20 games for the Orioles last season. 

What’s the record? 3-3-2. The Orioles play the Boston Red Sox at jetBlue Park at 1:05 p.m.