NEW YORK - - Felix Pie began the season as the Orioles' everyday left fielder. He began Tuesday night without a plate appearance since July 1.
Orioles manager Dave Trembley acknowledged that it has been difficult to get Pie in the lineup, largely because his team has faced a left-handed starter in 10 of its past 11 games heading into Tuesday night. Pie will start in today's series finale against the New York Yankees. Twenty days have elapsed since he last started - against the Boston Red Sox on July 1 - and he has appeared in just two games since.
"It has been tough when you play nine lefties in a row and then you get one day against a righty and then you get another lefty," Trembley said. "I probably should have tried to get him an at-bat on Sunday, but I didn't. He'll get a chance to start the game [today]. He's a member of this team. We play a lot of games. I think we play 20 in a row and then a day off and then 20 more in a row. Like everybody else who is not a regular player, you're going to have to use those guys."
Pie, 24, whom the Orioles acquired this offseason from the Chicago Cubs, is hitting .234 with two homers and eight RBIs. He has started just 23 games, including only six of the Orioles' past 42 games since June 1, because of rookie Nolan Reimold's emergence in left field.
Overall, Pie has gotten just 20 at-bats since May 27, going 8-for-23. However, he has earned praise from Trembley for the way he has embraced his bench role and handled being mostly relegated to pinch-running and defensive-replacement duties.
"He's spent an awful long time with [hitting coach Terry Crowley] in the cage," Trembley said. "His playing time hasn't been what he's wanted it to be, but he hasn't 'mule-lipped,' he hasn't been a malcontent. He's not been anything other than professional about it."
Hernandez earns praise
Rookie right-hander David Hernandez's performance Monday made the Orioles' 2-1 loss on Hideki Matsui's game-ending solo home run a little easier to swallow. Hernandez settled down after a rocky, 35-pitch first inning and allowed one run and three hits through six innings.
"He really grew up a lot and showed a lot," Trembley said. "I thought he beat them with his fastball in the middle of the ballgame. He got better. I thought he just really, really matured as a pitcher."
