Orioles manager Buck Showalter was quick to point out the value of Ubaldo Jimenez’s relief outing in the team’s 8-4 loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, but he didn’t go much further than that in proclaiming any sudden confidence in Jimenez.
Making his first relief appearance since being demoted to the bullpen, Jimenez provided six innings – allowing just two unlucky runs during his first inning of work in the third inning that came after an inning-ending out was overturned by review – and saved the bullpen from another potential roster move going into Monday’s series opener against the American League East-rival New York Yankees.