Red Sox

SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Chris Davis launched a two-run, opposite-field home run off right-hander Junichi Tazawa in the sixth inning Wednesday night, propelling the Orioles to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the second half of a split-squad doubleheader. The win improves the Orioles to 5-0 in the Grapefruit League. The Orioles had defeated the New York Yankees, 10-7, in an afternoon game Wednesday in Tampa. It was the first home run of the spring for Davis, who led the Orioles with 33 homers and 85 RBIs, and it brought the Orioles from behind.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Right-hander Chris Tillman pitched 1 2/3 innings in his first Grapefruit League start of the year, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks in Wednesday night's split-squad game against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. Tillman threw 43 pitches, 22 of them for strikes. He labored a bit, but said he was OK with his performance. “Yeah, first time out, I'm not really disappointed," Tillman said. “I felt OK. Command was spotty at best. I guess you kind of expect that the first time out, but other than that I felt pretty good.” If the mission was to get out there and air it out, it was a successful outing.

SARSOTA, Fla. --It's split-squad day! Today marks the first of two Orioles' split-squad dates but this is the only day-night split-squad day-night double header. The Orioles travel team will board the bus from Sarasota at 8:45 a.m. and head to Tampa to face the Yankees.  I'll be providing updates from Steinbrenner Field as right-hander Jake Arrieta starts for the Orioles. Columnist Peter Schmuck will be covering the Orioles nightcap home game against the Red Sox here at Ed Smith Stadium.

The American League East has long been considered one of baseball's toughest divisions, and that should hold true again in 2013. But it's no longer a division dominated by a couple high-spending teams and the occasional upstart. Suddenly, the AL East is being recognized for its top-to-bottom depth. The Orioles had their best finish in the division in 15 years in 2012, taking second place and earning a wild-card berth. The Blue Jays are the unofficial champions of the off-season, going from a fourth-place club to a World Series contender.

That the Boston Red Sox are talking to free-agent outfielder Adam LaRoche, which was reported Wednesday, isn't exactly new. The Red Sox were among a handful of teams - the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays also on that list - that had contact with the former Washington National earlier in the winter. But that the Red Sox, presumably in more advanced discussions than before, are back in the conversation is an interesting development in the free agency of LaRoche, and for various reasons.

The Orioles have added to their infield depth, acquiring 28-year-old third baseman Danny Valencia from the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday for cash considerations. Valencia led all third basemen in games in 2011, when he played in 154 and hit .246 with 15 homers for the Minnesota Twins. He was third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting that year. But Valencia really struggled last season, batting just .198 in 34 games with the Twins. He was demoted to Triple-A and eventually was dealt to the Red Sox in August.

The Orioles may be able to keep Rick Peterson after all. The Boston Red Sox have chosen Juan Nieves, who had been the White Sox's bullpen coach, to be their new pitching coach. Peterson, the Orioles' organization's director of pitching development, interviewed Saturday for the Boston position and had been reported to be the favorite. Peterson and new Red Sox manager John Farrell have had a relationship for more than two decades. The Orioles would like to retain Peterson, who was named the Cal Ripken Sr. Development Award winner this year for his work with minor league and rehabbing pitchers.

Orioles pitching coordinator Rick Peterson is reportedly new Red Sox manager John Farrell's choice to be Boston's next pitching coach, according to a report from Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston. Peterson, one of four candidates who has interviewed for the job, met with the Boston brass Saturday. Farrell is reportedly "all in" on Peterson, Edes writes, citing an industry source. An announcement is expected Tuesday. Peterson was brought in by executive vice president Dan Duquette to become Orioles pitching coordinator.

Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale will interview for the Boston Red Sox managerial job later this week, an industry source confirmed Monday.  Hale joined Buck Showalter's staff last offseason after the Red Sox fired former manager Terry Francona after Boston failed to make the postseason, a fate that was partially sealed because of the Orioles' win over the Red Sox at Camden Yards on the final day of the regular season in 2011. Before arriving in Baltimore, Hale was the Red Sox bench coach for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Farrell is right guy Paul Doyle Hartford Courant After waving goodbye to Terry Francona a year ago, the Red Sox reportedly made a bid for Blue Jays manager John Farrell. The Jays asked for starting pitcher Clay Buchholz as compensation, and the talks came to a halt. Enter Bobby Valentine, who presided over one of the worst seasons in franchise history. With Valentine ousted, all signs point again to Farrell. Smart move. Farrell is the perfect choice to satisfy all factions in the dysfunctional Red Sox organization, providing Boston and Toronto can work out reasonable compensation.