Wissenswertes » McGowan has had just one quality start this seaso

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles activated first baseman Chris Davis from the 15-day disabled list Sunday, a move that would have generated more enthusiasm in the Baltimore clubhouse if catcher Matt Wieters didnt take his place on the DL with a right elbow strain. After spending the minimum time on the disabled list with a strained muscle near his left ribcage, Davis was in the starting lineup for Sundays game against the Houston Astros. Wieters had an MRI on his elbow Monday and visited Dr. James Andrews, who prescribed he rest his arm. Wieters served as designated hitter this week, but the Orioles decided it would be a good idea to shut him down for a while. "I think to get the best opportunity for this to heal properly we need to let it quiet down completely," manager Buck Showalter said. "Youre getting treatment all day then its, Hold on a second to take some swings in the cage. I got to get ready for the game." Showalter added: "Originally, they felt the best case scenario was a two- or three-week period where he wasnt throwing. I think this gives us the best opportunity for this thing to manage itself." Wieters is batting .308 with five homers and 18 RBIs, but he has thrown out only one of 12 would-be base stealers. "Its not like some acute pain. Its just that he knows its not like it should be to catch at the major league level," Showalter said. "A lot of catchers would die to be able to make the throws Matt has made so far this year." Davis led the majors last year with 53 home runs and 138 RBIs. This season he has two homers and 13 RBIs in 22 games. He went on the DL on April 27, retroactive to April 26, after being pulled from a game against Kansas City. His rehabilitation assignment lasted only one game -- a 1 for 4 outing Saturday night for Class A Bowie. "Hes doing some things now he wasnt able to do that three or four day period he was trying to play through it," Showalter said. "That was good to hear from him." Steve Pearce performed well at first base and at the plate, but Davis lobbied to return Sunday and got his wish. "Steve Pearce is no stranger to success," Davis said. "Hes been big for us the last couple of years and hes done a great job. But Im tired of seeing him hit home runs." Astros manager Bo Porter was hoping Davis might remain on the DL at least another day, through the end the three-game series that concluded Sunday. "I thought he was going to stay down in Bowie," Porter joked. "We might just walk him four times. No, hes a good player. But you make quality pitches you have a good chance of getting him out. Im sure theyre excited to have him back." Miguel Andujar Jersey .com) - Chris Kreider tallied a goal and an assist as the New York Rangers capped a successful California road trip with a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. David Robertson Jersey . For the Blue Jays the time was Wednesday and the ace was R.A. Dickey. 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Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year.TORONTO -- Toronto manager John Gibbons didnt wait for the first question at his post-game availability before offering his thoughts on the Blue Jays coming up just short in a slugfest at Rogers Centre. "Its very rare when you get 16 hits and no errors and you dont win the game, put it that way," he said. Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam and a solo homer as Baltimore pounded four home runs to outscore Toronto 10-8 on Wednesday night. The Blue Jays had three homers of their own and outhit the Orioles 16-12 but couldnt catch up after blowing an early five-run lead. Toronto loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning but Jonathan Diaz hit into a game-ending double play. "(Jonathan) hit the ball hard, it just so happens it was right at somebody," said second baseman Ryan Goins. "Well come back tomorrow and go back to grinding." Chris Davis and Matt Wieters had the other homers for the Orioles. Canadian Brett Lawrie, Jose Reyes and Goins went deep for Toronto (11-10). "You have so much respect for that offence over there," Gibbons said of the Orioles. "They keep coming at you. You never really feel good but some key outs along the way can make a difference and their guys got them." The Blue Jays, who left 11 men on base, had their chances late in the game. Josh Thole drove in a run in the seventh inning to cut Baltimores lead to two runs. With two runners on, Reyes nearly cut the deficit further when he sliced a ball into left field but it bounced a few inches outside the foul line to take away a ground-rule double. Darren ODay then struck Reyes out to keep Baltimores lead intact. Jose Bautista singled in the eighth inning but Edwin Encarnacion hit into an inning-ending double play. Baltimore reliever Tommy Hunter gave up three straight singles in the ninth before earning his sixth save as the Orioles (10-10) returned to the .500 mark. "It wasnt pretty but we got it done," Cruz said. Davis opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo homer to deep centre field off Toronto starter Dustin McGowan. The ball landed in the first row of standing-room only seats above the first deck. In the second inning, Toronto sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs. Lawrie, from Langley, B.C., turned on the first pitch he saw from Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (3-1) for hiss second three-run shot in as many games.dddddddddddd Goins walked and Reyes followed with his first home run of the year. An inning later, Cruz -- who has driven in at least a run in each of his last six games -- launched a rainbow solo homer to the second deck in left field. McGowan was pulled in the fifth inning after loading the bases on a walk, infield single and hit batsman. "Youve got to throw strikes and that leadoff walk killed me," he said. "After that, I just kind of lost rhythm." Reliever Todd Redmond (0-2) came on and got Nick Markakis to pop up before the Orioles went to work on a six-run inning that gave them a lead they wouldnt relinquish. Cruz cleared the bases by launching a 2-1 pitch to deep left for his sixth homer of the season. Redmond gave up two more singles, a double and a sacrifice fly before J.A. Happ came on to record the final out. Goins cut into the lead in the sixth inning with his first homer but Wieters tacked on another run in the seventh with a solo shot, his fourth homer of the year. McGowan gave up five hits, six earned runs, and one walk while striking out five batters. The veteran right-hander said he has been feeling a little more fatigued than usual as he adjusts to life as a starter again. "My body just feels like it runs out of steam just a little bit," he said. "I shouldnt be feeling that. I should be at the point where I can go 90-100 (pitches), especially the way my arm feels -- it feels great." McGowan has had just one quality start this season since moving back to the rotation from the bullpen. He threw 70 pitches on the night, 43 of them for strikes. Tillman pitched 5 2-3 innings, allowing nine hits, seven earned runs and two walks with seven strikeouts. Announced attendance was 15,202 and the game took three hours 11 minutes to play. Notes: Cruz has seven career grand slams. ... Baltimores four-homer night was a season-high. ... Drew Hutchison (1-1) is scheduled to start the series finale Thursday night for the Blue Jays. The Orioles will counter with fellow right-hander Bud Norris. ... Toronto will wrap up its six-game homestand with a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox. ... Lawrie has five home runs on the season. ... Bautista has reached base safely in all 21 games this year. He also leads the major leagues with 27 walks. ... The Orioles left five men on base. ' ' '