The Orioles locked down a 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks tonight, pulling to an AL-best 25-12 record. The victory, which included some interesting decisions from Brandon Hyde, featured 4 1/3 scorele s innings from the bullpen behind . Baltimores skipper called upon to pitch the seventh inning with the team holding a one-run lead. Kimbrel retired , and in order. , and followed in relief to secure the victory. Its the first time this season that Kimbrel has entered a game before the ninth inning. The nine-time All-Star has hit a rough patch of late, failing to finish off save opportunities against the Reds and Nationals in his previous two appearances. After the game, Hyde demurred when asked whether Kimbrel was being pulled from the Jesse Nurmi Jersey closer job. The manager said Kimbrels role is day to day and that he hoped to get the scuffling right-hander a different look this evening ( via Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun). Even if the Os decide to move away from Kimbrel as a full-time closer, hes clearly still among their most important relievers. Protecting a one-run lead in the seventh is a high-leverage spot although it did come against the 8-9-1 hitters in the Arizona batting order. Webb and Cano have arguably been Baltimores two best relievers this year, so theyre probably better suited than Kimbrel to take on the middle of an opponents lineup. The Os signed Kimbrel to a $13MM free agent deal with the hope that hed solidify the ninth after Tommy John procedure. Kimbrel has technically gone 8-11 in save opportunities, but his two previous appearances in which he didnt complete the ninth inning but was pulled before the Os relinquished the lead arent considered blown saves. Kimbrel had only succe sfully locked down the game in one of his last five tries. Including tonights performance, he owns a 4.40 ERA through 14 1/3 innings. Kimbrel has punched out 22 of 62 batters faced (an excellent 35.5% rate) but he has also walked nearly 15% of his opponents. Hed walked between 10 and 11% of hitters in each of the previous two seasons with the Dodgers and Phillies. While Kimbrel had a couple rough outings in the postseason with Philadelphia, he went 23-28 on save opportunities with a 3.26 ERA during the regular season last year. Hyde could take a broadly flexible approach to the entire pitching staff. Beyond potentially shuffling the high-leverage bullpen roles, he told reporters before tonights game that the team would consider moving to a six-man rotation when the schedule nece sitates (relayed by Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com). Baltimore is off next Thursday before playing 14 straight through May 30. The following month is particularly grueling, as the Os only have one day off in June (on 6/17). Baltimore is currently operating with a five-man staff comprising , , , and Irvin. Right-handers and are on the 15-day injured list. Rodriguez doesnt seem far off from returning and will surely step back into the MLB rotation when healthy. With Irvin and Kremer pitching very well of late, theres sense in moving to a six-man staff when Rodriguez is back given the upcoming heavy schedule. Kyle Palmieri Jersey