Showalter making sure Hunter, Matusz see action

KANSAS CITY -- Before he left the club Saturday to attend the law school graduation of his daughter, Orioles manager Buck Showalter talked to acting manager John Russell about the status of bullpen members Tommy Hunter and Brian Matusz.

"I said that if the situation presents itself, we need to get Brian and Tommy in the game," Showalter said.

Hunter and Matusz each wound up working one-third of an inning in the eighth and kept the Orioles' deficit at 1-0 on Saturday.

Despite Hunter's rocky times lately, Showalter made it clear on Sunday that he remains an integral part of the Orioles' bullpen.

"We don't have any misgivings about bringing Tommy in," Showalter said. "He'll be in a situation again that's very meaningful for us."