By Adam Kilgore
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 7, 2007

SEATTLE, June 6 -- Baltimore Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo hinted Wednesday that changes may come for the club's ineffective and overtaxed bullpen, which blew three consecutive late-inning leads before the Orioles' 9-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. He spoke with Orioles Vice President Mike Flanagan on Tuesday about getting help.

"He's aware of the problem," Perlozzo said. "We're looking at some options right now. We're hoping by Friday that we'll have something in place that's a little bit better."

The bullpen has been hamstrung by the poor performances of John Parrish and Danys Baez and the unreliability of Scott Williamson and Todd Williams, both of whom have had arm trouble, Perlozzo said. That leaves Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford and Chris Ray to rely on.

"It's hard to have two guys in your pen you can use once every three days and then have two other guys struggling and you're down to three guys, and we use them every night," Perlozzo said. "As you can see, that doesn't work."

The leading candidate to be called up would be Jim Hoey, who has not allowed an earned run in 18 2/3 innings for Class AA Bowie. Hoey, 24, pitched in 12 games for the Orioles last season. The Orioles could also take a minor league starter and make him a long reliever, Perlozzo said.

"I'm sure they're exploring outside of the organization also," he said. "I'm not saying there's going to be something, but we're certainly trying to get the bullpen back to a workable bullpen."

Catcher Ramon Hernandez, who was struck by a foul tip in the ninth inning, did not fly back to Baltimore with the team, instead remaining in Seattle for X-rays on his groin, a team spokesman said. . . .

Shortstop Miguel Tejada started at designated hitter Wednesday, his first day off from the field this season. Tejada first asked Perlozzo if he could play DH on Sunday, but Perlozzo offered him Wednesday instead, and Tejada accepted. He went 2 with 5 with an RBI.

"I feel good," he said. "I think being the DH freshens my legs and at the same time, gives the other guys a chance to play. I think it is good for me right now. It's not something I really like that much, but I got to do what the manager decides and he decided that I would be the DH.

"For me, it's hard. Right now, I don't want to be out of the field. We're in a losing streak right now and I like to be out on the field. I think I can help my team with my energy. It's a little hard for me to do that as DH."

UP NEXT Tomorrow vs. Rockies7:05 p.m. Trachsel (4-4) vs. Francis (5-4) MASN Saturday vs. Rockies7:05 p.m. Guthrie (3-1) vs. Lopez (2-0) MASN