Snyder impresses in first start for Orioles

ANAHEIM -- Largely lost in the Orioles' 5-4, 10-inning win over the Angels on Saturday - given the game-winning hit by Steve Pearce and the superb start by Freddy Garcia -- was the impressive performance behind the plate by catcher Chris Snyder, who made his first start for Baltimore.

"You could see they had a good tempo," manager Buck Showalter said of Snyder's work with Garcia, who had a no-hitter through six innings. "He's got a good idea what he's doing. He threw out a big runner [Mark Trumbo in the ninth inning] on a hit-and-run and just missed the other guy."

Snyder, who had one plate appearance on Friday night, was acquired in a trade from the Angels on April 28 and he has assumed the backup catcher job with Taylor Teagarden on the disabled list. The 32-year-old Snyder, who signed a Minor League deal with the Angels this spring, had been playing for their Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City prior to the trade and has been a positive addition for the Orioles.

"Chris, he wants to catch everybody," Showalter said. "He's catching between innings, wants to catch every bullpen. And I think it's for a sincere reason, he wants to get to know the pitchers. Catchers, at his age, there's no tree like the tree of catchers. Everybody knows everybody. But he seems to be in a good place right now with where he is and who he is and what he can do. If you look at his numbers in Salt Lake City, the timing was real good with him being here with the Angels. He had some interesting input.

"He's been connected, engaged. Very engaged here. He has something to bring here. He speaks up, speaks freely. And I want him too. He's got a lot of experience."