Sherman Obando

On the field: Umpire Jim McKean is suffering from a throat infection, so for the first four innings last night Vic Voltaggio, Gary Cederstrom and Jim Joyce worked as a three-man crew. In the fifth inning, Ed Hickox, one of the AL's roving umpires who fills in where needed, arrived at Camden Yards and worked the rest of the game at second base.In the dugout: Orioles manager Phil Regan, searching for a way to shake up things, moved catcher Chris Hoiles into the No. 5 spot in the batting order and batted Sherman Obando sixth, at designated hitter.

BaseballCubs: Recalled OF Ozzie Timmons from Triple-A Iowa. Released IF Felix Fermin.Indians: Activated P Jack McDowell from 15-day DL. Optioned P Danny Graves to Triple-A Buffalo.Expos: Designated P Dave Leiper for assignment. Activated former Orioles OF Sherman Obando from 15-day DL.Marlins: Designated OF Marquis Riley for assignment.Royals: Purchased contract of P Jaime Bluma from Triple-A Omaha. Designated P Tim Pugh for assignment.Sioux Falls (Independent): Unaffiliated team activated former Orioles 1B Paul Carey from DL.BasketballCavaliers: Signed C Mark West.

Baseball Orioles -- Placed OF Sherman Obando on the 15-day DL. Called P John O'Donoghue from Triple-A Rochester.Florida Marlins -- Named Tony Perez director of international relations and special assistant to the GM.New York Yankees -- Waived P Neal Heaton. Called up P Paul Gibson from Triple-A Columbus.San Francisco Giants -- Placed 3B Matt Williams on the 15-day DL with a strained lower abdominal muscle.Seattle Mariners -- Acquired IF Dave Magadan from the Florida Marlins for OF Henry Cotto and minor-league P Jeff Darwin.

Manager Phil Regan said "four or five players" will be promoted from Tiple-A Rochester after major-league rosters expand tomorrow. The candidates:Player, Pos. ........ Role he would fill with OriolesCesar Devarez, C .... Third catcher, which would allow Orioles to............... ..... pinch run for Chris Hoiles more readily.Sherman Obando, OF .. Right-handed pinch hitter or occasional............... ..... DH, he's hitting .294 for Rochester.Jim Wawruck, OF ..... Solid left-handed pinch hitter, his specialty.

The Orioles' organization gained two players and lost two others yesterday during the Rule V draft.In the major-league portion of the draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected pitcher Jose Mercedes off the Rochester roster. Mercedes, 22, is the first player the Orioles have lost in that fashion since outfielder Andres Mora in the late 1970s.As the Orioles did with Sherman Obando last summer, the Brewers must keep Mercedes on their major-league roster all of 1994 or offer him back to Baltimore for $25,000.

On the field: In the top of the second, Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken dueled with Minnesota starter Kevin Tapani. On a 2-2 count, Ripken fouled off a pitch. Fouled off another. And another. And another . . . In all, Ripken fouled off seven pitches before grounding to shortstop. He may have helped to wear down Tapani, who threw 28 pitches in the inning -- including one that Andy Van Slyke hit for a two-run homer.In the dugout: Orioles manager Phil Regan, true to his word, removed starter Ben McDonald after five innings.