BOSTON -- Orioles right-handed reliever Tyler Wilson, who hadn't pitched since April 4, made his long-awaited return to the hill on Wednesday night, working three scoreless innings in Baltimore's 4-2 loss to the Red Sox.
Wilson followed starter Ubaldo Jimenez's five innings and handled the long layoff well, running his season total of scoreless innings to six.
"He deserves a lot of credit," O's catcher Caleb Joseph said. "That's a really, really tough job against a lot of big names over there, a good offense. Tyler, he's prepared. He's going to be engaged at all times. He came out and pounded the strike zone, kept us within arm's reach of the game. Any time you can do that, look, that's one of the hardest jobs in baseball, to come out and be that kind of long-relief guy who can really keep your team in the game. Kudos to him. He did a fantastic job."
Wilson allowed two hits and struck out two in the 39 pitch-outing, throwing 30 strikes. The righty, who made the Orioles out of Spring Training, is primarily a starter but has been in the bullpen for the first week of the season. He's an option for spot starts, though Vance Worley, slated to start on Friday in Arlington, seems to have taken the fifth-starter spot.
"Someone's always going to be in that [relief spot] … but he's a good guy in that situation because he stays ready," manager Buck Showalter said of Wilson before the game. "He's very athletic. He's got a good delivery that doesn't take a lot of honing, so to speak."
Wilson, who followed Chris Tillman's outing on Opening Day, said the toughest part of relieving is making sure he's physically ready to pitch every day. As for the mental side of things, Wilson is doing his best to learn about that every day he's in the Major Leagues -- regardless of his role.
"Not being in the game gives me a chance to sit there and talk pitching with guys like Zach [Britton] and Darren [O'Day] at the end of the game," Wilson said. "That's really invaluable, that type of mental experience and putting myself in situations when I'm not out there. It's been a learning process, and I'm trying to get better every single day in some capacity, whether it's out there on the mound getting game reps or in the bullpen, watching and seeing how plays develop."
Worth noting
• Center fielder Adam Jones (ribcage) took batting practice on the field prior to Wednesday's game, and Showalter said he hopes to start Jones on Thursday in Texas.
Hyun Soo Kim got his second start this season on Wednesday, playing left field and going 0-for-2 with two walks and a strikeout.
• The Orioles announced on Wednesday that a special Mother's Day Catch on the Field will take place on Sunday, May 8, prior to the 1:35 p.m. ET game against the Athletics. Father's Day Catch on the Field will be held on Sunday, June 19, prior to the 1:35 p.m. game against the Blue Jays.
Beginning Friday at 11 a.m., fans may purchase one of two ticket packages that include a pair of tickets for the Mother's Day game and a 25-minute pregame session of catch on the field at Oriole Park. Father's Day packages will go on sale on Tuesday, May 10, at 11 a.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation.