Norris pleased with performance in second start

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Bud Norris cruised through his second Spring Training appearance on Saturday, striking out four batters and not allowing anybody to reach scoring position. Norris got two guys swinging and two guys looking, and he also coaxed a double play in the second inning.

Norris had worked two scoreless innings in his spring debut, and he escaped Saturday's game despite his back tightening up in the second inning. Norris said the back ailment wasn't really anything to worry about, and he said that getting four strikeouts was generally a good sign for him.

"It means you're playing on the corners, you're getting ahead of hitters and you have a chance to put guys away," said Norris. "That's what you want when you've got a guy ahead. You want to put him away. There are situations in the American League where you're going to need that."

Norris, acquired by the Orioles at least year's non-waiver Trade Deadline, stayed away from the middle of the plate on Saturday. Jackie Bradley Jr., the first batter of the game, took Norris all the way to the warning track, but the right-hander rallied by striking out Deven Marrero and Mike Carp.

Will Middlebrooks -- who would homer later in the game -- singled in the second inning, and Norris stayed on track by coaxing a double play from Travis Shaw. Norris, a California native, gave up another single in the third inning but struck out two of the final three batters he faced.

"Right-hander or left-hander, I'm trying to hit the glove," he said. "I'm trying to play both sides of the plate and work on the things I'm working on. The results were great today ... and I'm happy with that."