Givens back in big spots; Cashner pushed back in rotation; Orioles complete draft

ARLINGTON, Texas—Mychal Givens recorded his first save since May 6 on Tuesday when he struck out the final two batters in the Orioles’ sloppy 12-11 win over the Texas Rangers. Givens stopped the Rangers from tying or winning game after they had entered the ninth trailing, 12-5.

“The only feeling is just getting the win,” Givens said. “That’s the most important thing, not about myself or what I’m going through. It’s about helping our team get a win.”

Givens said that even though the Orioles had a seven-run lead entering the ninth, he didn’t dismiss the possibility of being called on.

“[I’m] always prepared for any situation,” Givens said. “You just always have to be on your toes.”

Givens struck out Delino DeShields and Elvis Andrus, but the ball skipped past catcher Pedro Severino on the strikeout of Andrus. Severinio alertly chased it and threw to first for the final out.

“It was all my fault,” Givens said. “I couldn’t see the signs. I crossed him up a little bit. It’s not on Severino. It was on me. He did a good job in getting to the ball and throwing to first.”

From May 20-29, Givens had five awful appearances, blowing three saves and losing three games. (On May 20, he was charged with both a blown save and a loss.) His ERA ballooned from 2.75 to 5.70.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde decided to put Givens in games earlier to try to get him back on track. On Friday, Givens pitched a perfect seventh against San Francisco, and then with the bullpen flailing on Tuesday night, Hyde called on Givens.

“I felt fine throughout the whole process,” Givens said. “I made good pitches. It wasn’t going my way. That’s the name of the game. You just go through rough pitches, but being a reliever, you have to make adjustments. I think I’ve been on track the whole time.

“It just wasn’t what I wanted, the result. I’m just trying to prepare our bullpen to be a strong bullpen, like we’ve always been.”

Hyde hasn’t said Givens is his closer, but it’s clear he wants him in the most important spots.

“Mike’s back to pitching the seventh, eighth or ninth inning,” Hyde said. “I’m not going to name him a closer or anything like that. If the matchup’s right, where I like who’s coming up in the ninth inning, then I’m going to use him. If it’s the eighth inning, then I’m going to use him then. It’s just depending on where they are in the lineup.”

Givens said it doesn’t matter when he pitches.

“That’s not my decision,” Givens said. “I don’t think about it. I’m ready to help the team win a ballgame, no matter what situation they put me in.”

Rotation change: The Orioles will start David Hess on Thursday against Texas and Gabriel Ynoa on Friday in Houston. Andrew Cashner, who was scheduled to start Thursday, won’t pitch until Saturday.

“He’s got a little leg soreness,” Hyde said.

“Because of the off-day [on Monday], we were able to keep David and Ynoa on regular rest, and Cash will go back in the second game of Houston.”

Orioles complete draft:  Here’s a list of the players the Orioles selected in the final day of the draft on Wednesday:  Andrew Daschbach, Stanford University, OF (11^th round); Kade Strown, West Virginia University, RHP (12); Dan Hammer, University of Pittsburgh, RHP (13); Monroe Janvrin, University of Central Missouri, OF (14); Kyle Martin, Fordham University, RHP (15); Shelton Perkins, James Madison University ,RHP (16); Morgan McSweeney, Wake Forest University, RHP (17); Malachi Emond, University of New Mexico, RHP (18); Jensen Elliott, Oklahoma State University, RHP (19); Clayton McGinness, Wichita State University, RHP (20); Toby Welk, Penn State Berks, INF (21); Jake Lyons, Oklahoma State University, RHP (22); Shayne Fontana, Lynn University, OF (23); Andrew Martinez, University of California Santa Barbara, INF (24); Garrett Farmer, Jacksonville State University, RHP (25); Nick Roth, Randolph-Macon College, RHP (26); Dillon McCullough, Eckerd College, LHP (27); Jonathan Pendergast, Pepperdine University, RHP (28); Houston Roth, University of Mississippi, RHP (29); Dalton Stambaugh, Morehead State University, LHP (30); Jake Prizina, Seattle University, LHP (31); Harris Yett, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, C (32); Craig Lewis, Seton Hill University, (33); Zachary Arnold, Great Oak (Calif.) High School, INF (34); Justin Miknis Dubois, Central Christian, C (35); Trevor Kehe, Colorado School of the Mines,  OF (36); Colby Thomas, Valdosta, (Ga.) High School, Of (37); Ben Pederson, Marshall (Minn.) High School (38); Christian Fagnant ,East Granby (Ct.) High School, C (39); Robert Zmarziak, Westhill (Ct.) Highs School, OF (40).

Overall, the Orioles took 22 position players and 19 pitches. Thirty-three of the 41 players were college athletes. They selected 16 right-handed pitchers, three left-handed pitchers, seven infielders, nine outfielders and six catchers.