As Deadline Nears, Mora Aims To Remain

Freel,33, had one of the strangest tenures in Orioles history. The club acquired him last winter from the Cincinnati Reds in the Ramon Hernandez trade, but then signed versatile Ty Wigginton and traded for outfielder Felix Pie, making Freel expendable.

He was playing in his ninth game with the Orioles when he was struck in the head by an errant pickoff throw from Boston's Justin Masterson on April 20. He was placed on the disabled list and never played for the Orioles again. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Joey Gathright on May 8 and was dealt from Chicago to the Royals on July 6 for a player to be named.

"It's been hard, just from a family standpoint. Packing up, moving. Packing up, moving. Not knowing if you are going to have a job," Freel said. "It's been an emotional roller coaster; it's been tough. But these guys over here are giving me a chance to play, and that's been great."

Reimold running

Nolan Reimold came to the big leagues with the reputation of being a slugger and not a base-running threat. Heading into Monday, however, he was 5-for-5 in stolen-base attempts, and had nabbed four in his past nine games.

"Once he steals a few more he won't be a secret," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "But I think it's just another part of his game that will allow him to be a complete major leaguer."

Around the horn

Pitcher Koji Uehara (elbow tendinitis) has increased his strengthening exercises, but has not begun throwing, Trembley said. There is no timetable for his return. ... The first 10,000 fans age 15 and over attending tonight's game will receive a Reimold T-shirt.