Bobby Bonilla

Bobby Bonilla couldn't exactly remember how many runners he left on base yesterday. A whole lot, he knew that. "It felt like 35 guys," he said.Three times Bonilla went to the plate with two outs, the Orioles just one Bonilla hit away from coming back against the Oakland Athletics. He popped out once, grounded out the second time, and then, as the potential tying run, Bonilla took a third strike, the 27th out in the Orioles' 6-3 loss.Three times those particularly dissatisfied among the 47,353 at Camden Yards targeted Bonilla for some verbal wrath, the resounding boos following him all the way into the dugout.

UPS AND DOWNSCal Ripken -- UP -- Davey Johnson didn't really give him any choice -- and, after all, Johnson is the manager -- but Ripken made the right decision by taking the high road and going along with this move to third.Davey Johnson -- UP -- Give him points for guts. His case will be helped tremendously, though, if Manny Alexander is effective once the grand experiment begins.Manny Alexander -- EVEN -- The curtain is coming up, and Alexander's last dress rehearsal was back in March.

Bobby Bonilla and Davey Johnson chatted amicably around the batting cage before last night's Orioles-Athletics game.The two men apparently have made their peace over comments Bonilla made after Wednesday night's game, when Bonilla was left out of the starting lineup."

Every day seems to bring a new drama with the Orioles. Will Bobby Bonilla be the designated hitter or not? Will Cal Ripken move to third base? How will manager Davey Johnson respond to Bonilla's latest outburst? And on and on.Through it all, this team put together primarily through free-agent signings and trades is winning, nine victories in its past 12 games, to pull within 1 1/2 games of first place in the American League East."You just hope you get the right mix of people," general manager Pat Gillick said yesterday.

On the field: Angels starter Shawn Boskie held the Orioles hitless into the fourth inning last night before Roberto Alomar looped a single into right field with one out. The Orioles went on to break up the shutout, too, when Rafael Palmeiro followed with a single and Bobby Bonilla brought home a run with a groundout.In the dugout: Bonilla, who has been hobbled by a sore ankle, was back in the designated hitter role he dislikes so much, but it would not have made sense to further aggravate his ankle problem by playing him at third.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- David Wells' bout with gout in his right big toe continues, and yesterday the Orioles had the left-hander go through a series of X-rays to determine if something else might be exacerbating the problem.The X-rays showed no abnormalities, so all Wells can do is sit and wait, in pain.Wells will undergo another examination today, using blood tests. The Orioles may have another injury to deal with, as well: After last night's game, manager Davey Johnson found out right-hander Scott Erickson twisted his ankle playing pepper.

Ups and downsBobby Bonilla -- (down) -- Just as soon as he gets his wish to play in right field, he sprains an ankle. The Orioles need him healthy and productive, ASAP.Brady Anderson -- (down) -- A strained quadriceps halts his homer binge.Rafael Palmeiro -- (down) -- Bonilla joined the Orioles last year and Palmeiro benefited. Bonilla isn't hitting this year and isn't providing protection, and Palmeiro is suffering.Cal Ripken -- (up) -- In '95, he was the king of infield hits, rollers that died on the grass.

MILWAUKEE -- David Wells' problem with gout in one of his big toes hasn't improved, and there is a strong chance he will be scratched from his scheduled start tomorrow.Wells has been hobbling around the last few days, and was to have his toe examined sometime yesterday. Wells last pitched Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, and the next day, he sat out pre-game drills because his foot was bothering him.At that time, manager Davey Johnson said he didn't expect the gout would prevent him from starting against the Milwaukee Brewers.

CHICAGO -- Bobby Bonilla wouldn't adjust, so Davey Johnson had to."I do feel I've got to play him every day in right field," the Orioles manager said before last night's 3-2 loss to Chicago.Why?Because Bonilla was so unhappy at DH, he was batting .202.So, Bonilla wins."Oh, man, I'm the happiest guy in America," Bonilla told The Sun's Buster Olney.And yet, Johnson wins, too.It's Johnson who emerged as the voice of reason in this unfortunate mess, Johnson who determined that he can't win with his cleanup man pouting.

Arthur Rhodes could get another starting assignment after tonight's start against the New York Yankees.Rhodes (3-0) threw five shutout innings in the Orioles' 3-2 victory last Thursday over the Kansas City Royals.That was Rhodes' first start of the season. If he makes it two good starts in a row, Orioles manager Davey Johnson said Rhodes could stay in the rotation."If Arthur's pitching like he's been pitching, to me 65 percent of the ballgame is starting pitching," Johnson said. "If you can get six or seven innings out of him, that's what's most important to the team."