Jay Witasick

The Orioles today announced a series of roster moves that set their roster at the 25-player limit to begin the 2005 season. The Orioles optioned left-handed pitcher Eric DuBose and infielder/outfielder Ramon Nivar to Triple-A Ottawa. They also reassigned right-handed pitcher Jay Witasick and infielder Enrique Wilson to minor league camp. On Friday, the club placed three players on the disabled list. Pitcher Kurt Ainsworth (right shoulder surgery), pitcher Jason Grimsley (ligament replacement surgery)

Moves Baseball ANGELS -- Purchased contracts of P Jason Bulger and P Rich Thompson from Triple-A Salt Lake. BLUE JAYS -- Recalled OF Adam Lind from Triple-A Syracuse. BRAVES -- Activated P Chuck James from 15-day DL. Recalled P Royce Ring, 1B Julio Franco and C Brayan Pena from Triple-A Richmond. CARDINALS -- Recalled OF Skip Schumaker, P Kelvin Jimenez and P Andy Cavazos from Triple-A Louisville. Purchased contract of IF Miguel Cairo from Louisville. Activated P Mike Maroth from 15-day DL. Designated C Brian Esposito for assignment.

At Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.Day Time TV StartersTonight 8: 05 HTS Scott Erickson (9-10, 5.45) vs. Dan Reichert (2-1, 9.46)Tomorrow 8: 05 HTS Jason Johnson (4-7, 6.44) vs. Blake Stein (0-0, 3.71)Wednesday 8: 05 HTS Doug Linton (0-1, 5.83) vs. Jeff Suppan (7-7, 4.03)Thursday 8: 05 HTS Sidney Ponson (11-8, 4.09) vs. Jay Witasick (4-10, 6.65)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Royals updateKansas City has the worst home record in the American League at 23-36. The Royals have lost three straight, nine of 12 and 13 of 17. They were swept at Camden Yards in June and are 2-4 against the Orioles this season.

Moves Baseball ANGELS: Activated P Troy Percival. Optioned P Lou Pote to Triple-A Salt Lake. BRAVES: Activated P Darren Holmes. Placed P Kevin Gryboski on 15-day DL, retroactive to Wednesday, with sore right elbow. DIAMONDBACKS: Placed C Damian Miller on 15-day DL, retroactive to Wednesday, with lower back strain. Activated IF Erubiel Durazo. EXPOS: Placed P Tony Armas on 15-day DL with strained lower back muscle. Recalled P Zach Day and P Britt Reames from Triple-A Ottawa. Optioned IF Henry Mateo to Ottawa.

Rodrigo Lopez tossed three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, and Walter Young drove in two runs with a single to lead the Orioles to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday. Lopez struck out three and didn't walk a batter. Kurt Ainsworth, Jay Witasick and Steve Kline each threw a scoreless inning. Young's two-run single off reliever Joel Hanrahan came after B.J. Surhoff walked and Miguel Tejada doubled with one out in the fourth inning. Luis Matos doubled twice, the first one driving in a run in the fifth inning, and Geronimo Gil's sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Enrique Wilson.

Tampa Bay scored seven runs off Orioles starter Sidney Ponson in four innings, including back-to-back homers by Alex Gonzalez and Toby Hall in the second, and the Devil Rays cruised to a 12-0 victory in the only meeting between the teams this spring. The Devil Rays scored three times in the second inning, including Gonzalez's two-run shot. They added four runs in the fourth, with Aubrey Huff contributing a two-run double. Tampa Bay finished with 20 hits. Ponson allowed 11 hits, walked none and struck out one. Rick Bauer surrendered two runs in the fifth inning, and Luis Ordaz hit a bases-empty homer off reliever Jay Witasick as part of a three-run eighth.

BaseballAstros: Optioned IF Russ Johnson to Triple-A New Orleans. Reassigned IF J.R. Phillips, IF Luis Rivera, C Marc Ronan, and P Reggie Harris to their minor-league camp.Athletics: Optioned P Jay Witasick (C. Milton Wright, UMBC) and IF Mark Bellhorn to Triple-A Edmonton.Diamondbacks: Placed P Cory Lidle, P Ken Robinson and IF Hanley Frias on the 15-day disabled list. Optioned P Chris Clemons and 2B Edwin Diaz to Triple-A Tucson and P Greg Hansell, IF Mike Robertson and C Tom Wilson to their minor-league camp.

The Boston Red Sox scored four runs off Orioles reliever Steve Reed in the seventh inning to wipe out a 5-1 deficit yesterday, and the teams played to a 5-5 tie. Reed, who has been receiving treatment for a "kink" in his right shoulder, was making his first appearance since March 16. Daniel Cabrera held the Red Sox to one unearned run over 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out four. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a single and stolen base by Brian Roberts, a balk on Red Sox starter Jon Papelbon and a sacrifice fly by Miguel Tejada.

BaseballAngels: Named Ken Forsch assistant GM and Jeff Parker director of player development.Athletics: Agreed to one-year contracts with P Willie Adams, P Tom Bennett, P Brad Rigby, P Blake Stein, P Jay Witasick (C. Milton Wright, UMBC), P Tim Kubinski, C Ramon Hernandez, IF Mark Bellhorn, OF Ryan Christenson and OF Brian Lesher.Cardinals: Agreed to $1.4 million, one-year contract with IF-OF John Mabry, thus avoiding salary arbitration.Giants: Promoted Jim Fregosi to special assistant to GM, Matt Nerland to assistant director of player personnel and Bob Hartsfield special assignment scout.