Tarasco

CHICAGO -- The Orioles boarded last night's charter to Boston with mixed emotions. They now fully realize they will travel the next eight weeks without Eric Davis, who will undergo surgery Friday to remove a mass from his abdomen. At the same time, they welcome the ascendance of his two young understudies and the return of Mike Mussina to star status.While the team was confirming Davis' surgery, it was riding a third straight powerful start by Mussina and a command performance from outfielders Jeffrey Hammonds and Tony Tarasco.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Brian Williams still has baggage in Rochester, N.Y., but at least it's not the kind that once threatened to wreck his career.Williams was promoted from Triple-A to replace Rocky Coppinger when the right-hander was optioned and subsequently placed on the disabled list. For the Orioles, Williams gives them another needed right-hander in middle relief. For Williams, his presence with the club gives him an opportunity to prove he has defeated the control problems that last year exiled him to Toledo.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Two months into the season and Jimmy Key's routine already has become monotonous. Give him a cool night, some big-swinging brutes and his predictable control and enjoy the cruise control.The first pitcher to reach six wins, Key last night became the first to reach seven by holding down the Oakland A's for the second time in 11 days. This time the Orioles walked away with a 5-1 win and a new offensive hero to go with their pitching standby.On display for others as much as for general manager Pat Gillick and assistant Kevin Malone, right fielder Tony Tarasco ripped into A's starting pitcher Steve Karsay (0-4)

OAKLAND, Calif. -- It has become a monotonous game. Hand Jimmy Key the ball and pick a way to win.Having convinced the American League he is again healthy, Key again steered the Orioles to a matter-of-fact win last night, holding the Oakland Athletics into the eighth inning as his club rolled to a 5-1 win before 11,352 at Oakland Coliseum. The win enabled Key to become the major leagues' first seven-game winner and left him undefeated through eight starts.The only difference between last night's win and his previous six was Key's supporting star.

Tony Tarasco went from being an insurance policy to the Orioles' starting left fielder, as manager Davey Johnson continued to move around his players like broken chess pieces.Tarasco was summoned from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday when Johnson began running out of healthy outfielders. He was activated less than two hours before last night's game, and Jerome Walton was removed from the starting lineup and placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.Walton, who joined the Orioles as a free agent in December, was bothered by a pulled abdominal muscle in spring training and a sore hamstring, which flared up during Tuesday's game.

After receiving an unexpected midnight phone call, Tony Tarasco hustled from Rochester, N.Y., to Camden Yards yesterday only to be placed in limbo.Rather than put injured left fielder B. J. Surhoff on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin muscle, the Orioles have decided to postpone a decision as long as this weekend. For Surhoff, the delay gives him time to convince manager Davey Johnson that he need not be deleted from an already gimpy outfield. For Tarasco, it means another frustrating delay in his desire for a big-league spot.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The move was predictable, but that didn't make it any less painful for Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco, who arrived at Kauffman Stadium yesterday to find out that he had been optioned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.The Orioles needed room on the roster for veteran outfielder Pete Incaviglia. The choices were limited -- Tarasco, Jeffrey Hammonds or Jerome Walton -- but Hammonds is playing in center field until Brady Anderson is ready to return full-time and Walton could not be sent down without his permission.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Orioles face their first roster decision of the season today when designated hitter-outfielder Pete Incaviglia returns from the disabled list.Manager Davey Johnson insisted he will not go any longer without a backup infielder. Asked about the status of Jeff Reboulet, Roberto Alomar's replacement, Johnson asserted, "Reboulet stays."With the end of Alomar's five-game suspension today, Johnson will have a fifth infielder available for the first time this season. The unattractive alternative would be to keep B. J. Surhoff as an emergency fill-in.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- How could you tell it was the Orioles' last day in Florida? After almost seven weeks of wearing shorts and flip-flops, the players came to work yesterday morning wearing coats and ties, the better to change back into for their flight to Baltimore last night.There was still one more game to play yesterday, but the clubhouse took on a deserted appearance as the players packed their belongings and shut down their spring training home at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.Pete Incaviglia, the burly designated hitter, stuffed his clothes into a Gucci bag as hitting coach Rick Down shook his head.