Fewer strikeouts, more runs lead to win at Cleveland (plus other notes)

Strikeouts, what strikeouts?

Even for a free-swinging team like the Orioles, the series in Houston was an outlier when you look at 52 strikeouts in three games. It was a major league record after all, so not only do we not see that often, we had never seen that.

Through Thursday's games, there were four American League teams striking out at a greater rate than the Orioles. The ranking in the AL in team strikeout percentage:

26.0 - Astros
25.2 - Rays
23.2 - Twins
23.0 - Tigers
22.9 - Orioles

We also knew that slumping players like Adam Jones and Manny Machado would soon break out. Last night, they combined to go 7-for-10. Do you hit Jones atop the order again today? I would, going with the "If it's not broken" theory.

Jones was 3-for-37 his last nine games before going 3-for-5. Machado was 7-for-45 his previous 12 games before going 4-for-5 with two doubles. Mark Trumbo hit another big homer, a two-run shot in the seventh. He began Friday's game tied for the league lead with 14 home runs. Trumbo has hit nine homers his last 22 games.

So for one day, anyway, it appears we can call off the panic from at least some of the members in Birdland. Last night's win was more needed for the fans than the players, in my humble opinion. No one in the clubhouse was too concerned. That seemed to bother some fans, but keeping an even keel was one reason they won last night.

At some point, the Orioles will be delighted to welcome J.J. Hardy back. But last night, we saw Machado and Jonathan Schoop combine for six hits and three RBIs. And one highlight-reel double play.

I've said it many times, but I believe when the Orioles do turn over shortstop full-time to Machado, it won't take long for fans to forget he ever played third base. That should be apparent with each passing day we get to see him play the heck out of shortstop. If Machado did in fact convince manager Buck Showalter to play him there in Hardy's absence, that was a great thought.

A few more notes on the Orioles:

* The Orioles are now 21-4 when they score four runs or more. They had not done so the previous five games before last night, scoring 12 runs in that stretch and going 1-4.

* The Orioles bullpen has allowed just two runs and 12 hits over the last 14 1/3 innings the past four games. They have five walks and 19 strikeouts in that span.

* O's pitchers have allowed homers in five consecutive games, giving up seven in three games and nine in the last five.

* Schoop has 16 RBIs his past 14 games. After batting .218 in April, here are Schoop's stats in May: Over 23 games, he is batting .318 with four doubles, a triple, four homers and 17 RBIs. He is slugging .523 with an OPS of .852 this month.

* O's hitters went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position last night. In the Houston series, they went 4-for-28.