Trembley said Cintron would back up Brian Roberts at second base and Freddie Bynum at shortstop. Cintron pinch hit and played second base in the eighth inning yesterday in his Orioles debut. Bynum, Trembley said, will keep the starting job, "until he shows he can't do it."
McCrory, 25, appeared in two games, allowing two hits, four walks and four earned runs (54.00 ERA) while recording two outs. He hadn't pitched since May 1.
Walker struggling
Left-hander Jamie Walker, probably the club's best reliever in 2007, hasn't been nearly as effective this season. He has allowed seven of his 18 inherited runners to score, and left-handers are hitting .394 against him (13-for-33) after they batted .232 in the previous three years.
On Saturday, he started the seventh and allowed a triple and two singles, retiring no one.
"I beat myself up pretty good [Saturday] night after I got out of here," he said. "No excuses. I've just got to make better pitches and keep my head up."
Trembley said Walker is struggling with locating his pitches, but he isn't worried about the 36-year-old veteran.
"I don't think it is ever a matter of confidence with that guy. He's been around the block way too much for that to affect him," Trembley said. "I think he is intuitive enough and competitive enough that he'll rectify."
Around the horn
The majority of Orioles and Royals hitters used pink bats and wore pink sweatbands to help promote breast cancer awareness on Mother's Day. ... Aubrey Huff started at third base for the first time since Aug. 26, against the Minnesota Twins. It was Huff's 313th career start at third. ... Roberts (bruised foot) didn't play but said he should be available Tuesday.
dan.connolly@baltsun.com
