Trachsel was not lights out, but he was serviceable as previously advertised.  He could only make it into the sixth, but he handed the ball over to Matt Albers with the Orioles very much still in the game.

The starter gave up his only runs in the first inning on an Alex Gordon two-run homerun.  From there he scattered his hits, looking occasionally shaky, but never letting the wheels fall off.

Baltimore hitters are making up for lost time getting everyone on base at least once, except for the slumping Luke Scott.  The left fielder has recorded only three hits in his last 24 at-bats after a torrid start to the season.  Scott doesn’t travel well batting just .193 on the road compared to his .354 at the Yard.

Freddy Bynum continued a hot return and is now 4 for 8 with 3 runs scored in his first two games back; both victories.  Bynum makes an unlikely spark plug to heat the O’s back up, but let’s hope he can keep producing from the nine-hole.

(Friday Box Score)

Looking Ahead to Boston

I’m looking forward to the Orioles getting back to Baltimore and getting out first shot of the season at the division leading Red Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday.  A four game sweep of the Royals sure would be nice momentum taking on the Boston powerhouse.

It appears that we’ll see Josh Beckett on Tuesday and Jon Lester on Wednesday.  The Orioles rotation is a bit less predictable given the two off days this week. 

I’d think Trembley would like to work Guthrie against Beckett on Tuesday and Cabrera against Lester in the businessman special Wednesday, but we’ll have to ask the coach about that.

Get ready for some Nick Markakis t-shirts, Baltimore.

(Photo: AP)