OAKLAND, Calif. — After a serious knee injury that took 11?weeks away from Jonathan Schoop's promising season last year, the second baseman was told he'd have to make sure to keep the joint strong throughout the rest of his career if he wanted to hold up over a long season.

Now at age 24, Schoop has accomplished so much more. His breakout season might have been delayed one year, but he has blossomed into one of the top all-around second basemen in the game with a combination of power and defense rarely seen at his position.

He has also proved to be durable, putting his history of injuries behind him. Schoop is the only player in the majors to have played every inning and every out of his team's games this season, according to STATS LLC, and his 114 consecutive games played give him the second-longest active streak in the majors, trailing only the 123 in a row played by Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar.

Schoop hopes to play all 162 games this season.

“That was my first goal this year because I was hurt last year,” Schoop said before the Orioles' 9-6 win Thursday. “I'm trying to put myself in a good situation where I can go out there and compete every day.”

When Schoop arrived in the major leagues, durability was a concern. He was growing into his body. Then, there was last year's injury in which he tore his PCL and sprained his MCL, and the challenge of constantly taking care of his knee going forward.

“I don't want him to forget that,” manager Buck Showalter said. “I don't think he will. When all of a sudden you've had your career threatened and all of a sudden you're hearing, ‘Hey, if you don't stay on top of this it's going to reoccur, and if you do it right it will actually be stronger than your other knee.' And he stayed on top of it.”

Combine that with the fact that his bat has caught up with his exemplary defensive skills — he is hitting .283/.315/.476 with a career-high 17 homers — and Schoop is enjoying the best season of his young career.

Orioles option Ondrusek: The Orioles optioned right-hander Logan Ondrusek to Double-A Bowie after Thursday's game after the reliever couldn't get out of the eighth inning, struggling again in his intended role of getting left-handed hitters out.

The Orioles have summoned Bowie left-hander Donnie Hart to join the team before tonight's series opener against the San Francisco Giants, according to an industry source. Hart, 25, appeared in three games with the Orioles earlier this season.

Ondrusek, a reliever with a history of reverse splits, was signed out of Japan in the team's latest effort to find a reliever to pitch against left-handed hitters.

Still waiting on Pearce DL decision: Showalter said the club plans to decide whether to place Steve Pearce on the disabled list before the Orioles open their three-game interleague series against the Giants tonight.

Showalter said he hoped to get some clarity by the end of Thursday. Pearce still needs to swing a bat to test his nagging right arm. He left Sunday's game with a flexor mass strain after an errant throw from right field and received a cortisone shot after his exit, but hasn't done much since.

Hardy gets day off: Showalter gave J.J. Hardy, one of the team's hottest hitters, a day off Thursday afternoon as utility man Ryan Flaherty received a rare start at shortstop.

Flaherty received his first start in 21/2 weeks and his third start at shortstop since July 4.

Around the horn: After Thursday's win, the Orioles lead the all-time series with the A's, 261-260. … Right-hander Chris Tillman became the 14th pitcher to surpass 1,000 career innings with the team. … The Orioles bats didn't produce any runs Wednesday, but the dugout received a visit from an actual bat during the game. Many Orioles, Showalter included, thought it was a “big moth” when they first saw it but later realized it was indeed a bat.

eencina@baltsun.com

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