Hellickson with seven scoreless, O's sweep K.C. (quotes added)

Well, that was some debut. In his first game on the mound for the Orioles, right-hander Jeremy Hellickson pitched seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball as the Orioles blanked the Royals 6-0 at Camden Yards.

This completes a stunning three days of pitching by the club, which gave up just three runs in this series. O's starting pitchers allowed just one earned run in 22 innings against Kansas City, as the Orioles moved to within 2 1/2 games of the Royals for the second American League wild card spot.

Hellickson's night included a major escape act in the top of the sixth. He issued a leadoff walk to Melky Cabrera, who then advanced to third on Eric Hosmer's double to right. But Hellickson got cleanup hitter Salvador Perez to pop out to the mound, fanned Mike Moustakas on an 0-2 pitch and got Jorge Bonafacio to ground to first. An escape act indeed.

But he was otherwise in control. Even a 35-minute rain delay after he got the first two outs of the third could not stop him. He walked one and fanned three, throwing 94 pitches, 62 for strikes. He threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of 27 batters.

This was Hellickson's second scoreless start of his 21 on the year. He threw five scoreless on April 9 versus the Nationals. Between the Orioles and Phillies, he is now 7-5 with an ERA of 4.45.

Mychal Givens retired the side in order in the eighth and Darren O'Day pitched a scoreless ninth to conclude the Orioles' seventh shutout and a series in which they outscored the Royals 15-3. Kansas City was 10-1 in its previous 11 games when this series began.

The Orioles didn't get much going tonight off left-hander Jason Vargas. But they did strike for three quick runs in the last of the second. Trey Mancini reached on an infield single and moved up on a groundout. Tim Beckham doubled to right to plate Mancini and drive in his first run as an Oriole to make it 1-0. An out later, he scored when Caleb Joseph hit a two-run homer to left. Joseph hit No. 6 on a 1-1 fastball to make it 3-0. It was his second homer in his last three games.

Vargas had allowed two runs or less in 14 of 20 starts this year and then gave up three in a span of five batters. He took the loss, allowing four hits and three runs over five innings. He gave up just one hit outside of the second.

Adding on to the lead, the Orioles made it 6-0 in the eighth. That inning featured a Chris Davis two-run double to right and Beckham's RBI triple. He drove in two runs tonight and is 4-for-8 in his first two games with his new team.

After an impressive three-game sweep of the Royals, the Orioles are back within a game of .500 at 53-54. Winners of five in a row and 11 of 16, they host Detroit tomorrow night to start a four-game series.

Postgame quotes:

Hellickson on if he had any nerves tonight: "Last night I had some nerves, but once I got out there I felt fine. You know, I've been traded before, just not in season to a team that's playing as well as we are, and that has a chance to make the playoffs. Just a little nervous last night, but I felt really good today."

Hellickson on if there was pressure on him tonight: "Maybe a little bit. You just have to be confident in yourself. Me and Caleb had a good game plan, so really didn't deviate away from that at all. I just threw what he put down and where he put the glove and it felt good tonight.

"I think the biggest thing was the curveball tonight. I don't think I've thrown that many this year. It was good to get that over 0-0 when I needed to and I think I had a good two-strike one tonight, too."

Hellickson already feels part of the team: "Monday when I came in, everybody made me feel welcome and comfortable and I felt part of the team right away. But it is always good to throw a good one your first time out with a new team. These guys made me feel welcome from the second I walked in here."

Beckham on two ex-Rays leading the O's tonight and his first days with club: "Yeah man, it's crazy that we ended up back on the same club. He's a heck of a pitcher, and glad to be back with him, and great to have him here on the hill with the Orioles and to help us win some ballgames.

"It's been a wild one, man. Phone still hasn't stopped going off, but I'm happy to be here, happy they believe in me. We've got a great club here, great club, love the energy, love the team camaraderie. It's going to be a fun ride."

Joseph on Hellickson: "It was really impressive. What a night, what a debut. It is what we expected. It's hard to do. It was something I know he was excited about, too. It was a lot better being back there than at the plate trying to hit him. I'm glad he's on our side."

Joseph on if win streak can justify management keeping team together this week: "We try and do that the first day of spring all the way into the season. They've invested a lot of money in this team and there is a lot of faith put in this team with the fans and ownership and management. We haven't panicked. I know it hasn't been exactly what we wanted it to look like, but there is still a never quit here. We have the type of team here - the guys in here, the power of the lineup, the way the starting pitching is trending, the back of the bullpen - to make a run at this. We've always believed it. We like the additions we've gotten and hopefully it all jells and we can really make a run at this."