Cowser’s great plays in center don’t ‘happen by accident’, Albernaz says; Former Orioles manager Phil Regan dies

BALTIMORE—Colton Cowser, who’s starting in center field on Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs, has made several outstanding plays in the field in recent weeks.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said it’s not that Cowser or any other fielder gets into a hot streak as a hitter might.

“I think it’s just confidence,” Albernaz said. “You feel like when the ball is under the air, and it has air under it, you feel like you can go catch it. It doesn’t matter where it is.

“You get to that point just because of the work you put it. It doesn’t happen by accident. I’m sure everyone has seen it here for defensive work and [batting practice], Cowser gets after it. All his work is very intentional, and it’s not surprising what he’s doing out in center field.

“I do think there’s not a hot streak, but there’s a confidence that comes with that when you’re feeling good, you get in the right jumps, you’re making plays, you just get in that zone, that confidence mode where you feel like you can get anything.”

Regan dies

Phil Regan, who managed the Orioles in 1995, has died at 89. Regan was an excellent major league pitcher, and pitched for four teams, the Tigers, Dodgers, Cubs and White Sox in a 13-year major league career. He was a member of the 1966 Dodgers team that was swept by the Orioles in the 1966 World Series.

Regan, who was an All-Star in 1966, had a 71-73 record in his only season with the Orioles.

He coached for many years, most recently at age 82 as an interim pitching coach for the New York Mets in 2019.

Regan was the manager when Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game streak in 1995.

Notes: Infielder Jaiden Le Re and right-handed pitcher JT Quinn were named the Orioles’ minor league player and pitcher of the month. Lo Re hit .361 with a home run and 12 RBIs for Single-A Delmarva and the Florida Complex League Orioles. Quinn was 1-0 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts for High-A Frederick. … Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Jud Fabian has been reinstated from the injured list. …Delmarva infielder Cobb Hightower has been placed on the injured list. … Catcher Chadwick Tromp cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Orioles-Cubs lineups

Orioles

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Adley Rutschman-C

Taylor Ward-LF

Pete Alonso-1B

Samuel Basallo-DH

Dylan Beavers-RF

Colton Cowser-CF

Blaze Alexander-3B

Jackson Holliday-2B

Dean Kremer-RHP

Cubs

Pete Crow-Armstrong-CF

Alex Bregman-3B

Michael Busch-1B

Seiya Suzuki-DH

Ian Happ-LF

Nico Hoerner-2B

Michael Conforto-RF

Carson Kelly-C

Dansby Swanson-SS

Colin Rea-RHP

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