Segui

BOSTON - Two days of rain turned the Orioles' latest trip to Fenway Park into a one-game showdown last night against the Boston Red Sox: Sidney Ponson vs. Pedro Martinez, Opening Night revisited. Battle of aces? How about battle of jokers? Both pitchers gave up seven runs before each team's bullpen stepped in and gave the game a measure of respectability. The game went from a scoring spree to a scoring drought, and the thirstiest batter in the Orioles' lineup finally won it. Miguel Tejada, who had yet to drive in a run this season, led off the 11th inning with a home run, and the Orioles piled on for a 12-7 victory.

David Segui had no interest in participating in last year's Opening Day ceremonies for the Orioles, not with his season beginning on the disabled list and more criticism coming from fans who gave up trying to keep track of his injuries. No wonder last night's festivities meant so much to him - the jog down the orange carpet during introductions, the applause, the realization that he made it through spring training in one piece and was starting against Boston's Pedro Martinez. Then he got drilled in the back.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Orioles' chartered bus returned from Fort Myers yesterday with David Segui still in one piece. He didn't step in a divot near first base or play a grounder off his thumb. His left wrist is sore - there's always pain in Segui's world - but he can play. As Opening Night approaches, it's becoming more evident that he will play. Only four more exhibition games separate Segui from the active roster, four more games to at least tug, if not completely rip, the warning label of fragility that's practically sewn into his uniform since he signed a four-year, $28 million contract in December 2000.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The lineup written out by Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli for last night's game against the Florida Marlins could be duplicated April 4, when the club begins its season at Camden Yards. Mazzilli stopped short of guaranteeing a repeat, but only because he has flexibility with the designated hitter. He used David Segui last night and seems to be leaning in that direction. "It depends on how I want to go with the DHs," Mazzilli said, "but I'd say that's the way we're going to go."

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Before Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli decides on a No. 2 hitter, he wants to give Luis Matos a chance to persuade him. Larry Bigbie batted second again yesterday in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Melvin Mora also is being considered for the role, but Mazzilli won't discount Matos. "I've got Luis, I've got Melvin, I've got Bigbie," Mazzilli said. "Three guys who can really get on base." That's the quality that most attracts Mazzilli. "I'm more concerned with on-base percentage because you can do more damage," he said.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - From a distance, it looked like Pedro Martinez was about to have another on-field confrontation yesterday, this time with Orioles first baseman David Segui playing the role of Don Zimmer. Martinez and Segui exchanged words in the infield after the second inning of the Orioles' 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox at City of Palms Park. But it turns out, the two are good friends, and Segui was just giving Martinez a little pitching advice. Ah, the joys of spring training. If anyone needed a reminder that this game didn't count, this was it. Martinez had a poor outing, and Orioles starting pitcher Sidney Ponson was even worse.

JUPITER, Fla. - The lump is visible on David Segui's left wrist. Even as he expresses relief over how it has shrunk in size over the past few days, it's still impossible to miss. He accepts it almost as part of the uniform, one of the sacrifices necessary to continue playing. Segui appeared in his first game yesterday, starting at first base in the Orioles' 6-1 loss to the Florida Marlins. In six innings, he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before Walter Young replaced him. Recovering from his second surgery on the wrist in two years, again to repair a damaged tendon and cartilage, Segui hit during the first day of workouts before the Orioles pulled him from the cage because of some stiffness that affected his swing.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Orioles' rearranged television and radio broadcast teams no longer have a spot for Michael Reghi. With Joe Angel being hired by WBAL Radio to do play-by-play, returning to the city after a 12-year absence, Jim Hunter and Fred Manfra will share the play-by-play duties on Comcast SportsNet and the Orioles Television Network while also assisting on the radio broadcasts. Analysts Jim Palmer and Buck Martinez return to the television booth, but Reghi's contract wasn't renewed after seven seasons.

Orioles pitcher Rick Bauer has been shut down indefinitely because of continuing stiffness in his right shoulder. Bauer hasn't pitched since Aug. 30 in Seattle, when the first seven batters reached against him before he recorded the last out. He threw in the bullpen before Saturday's game at Camden Yards but woke up the next day with the same discomfort. Manager Mike Hargrove said Bauer has a mild case of tendinitis and that the club doesn't want the condition to become worse. "We certainly don't want to take one of our young guys at this stage and risk a more serious injury," he said.