Machado: "I'm just going out there and enjoying myself" (O's win 10-8)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Usually a slow starter in camp, Manny Machado has been on such a tear at the plate this spring that he's joking about having to tap the brakes and save a little for later.

Machado had a single, run-scoring double and three-run homer today in three plate appearances before heading to the clubhouse. A guy on fire to this degree could set off the sprinkler system.

With eight hits in 13 at-bats, Machado will carry a .615 average into his next game, most likely on Sunday at home against the Red Sox. He won't ride the bus to Clearwater on Saturday.

He's in the driver's seat, so maybe he should handle the transportation.

Machado has two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in five games. The home runs have threatened to destroy some tables in left field.

Talk about his groove and Machado brings up the change in positions. Maybe there's a connection.

"It's been awesome," he said. "Getting some reps at short and doing all the work that I could be doing early in camp and getting as much reps as I can at short has been awesome. And the team's looking pretty good."

Machado doesn't look like the player with a career .237 (54-for-228) average in exhibition games. Removed from camp last spring to play in the World Baseball Classic, Machado went 4-for-26 (.154) with one home run and one RBI in the Grapefruit League.

So could the switch to short be a factor? Anyone else have a theory that doesn't involve his pending free agency?

"I have no idea," he said, smiling. "I guess luck. I mean, I don't know. I've got to slow down a little bit and try to get some this for April and May and June and July.

"I don't know, I'm just going out there and enjoying myself. I'm excited to be here, excited to be part of this ballclub and just going out there every day with the guys that I've been dealing with and running with for the last seven years has been amazing."

The challenge always has been separating offense from defense, not letting one bleed into the other during a tough stretch. Not that he's experiencing any in Florida.

"That's the toughest thing about being a baseball player, especially good baseball players who play both sides of the field, is trying to separate when you go 0-for-4 or when you go 0-for-20," Machado said. "Are you going to take it out on the field? Everybody has to work on that. I think that's the biggest key for me is to go out there and just try and separate it.

"I've got to be a leader on defense and whatever happens at the plate, I just leave it in the dugout and things will always turn out. I think with the struggles that I had last year, I learned a lot about just putting that in the past, and you can't control the outcome of anything. You go out there and you work hard and you can win the game.

"Playing at short, I'm going to have more opportunities to try to save some runs and help the team win. That's all we can do."

Tim Beckham, who inherited Machado's former position, charged a slow ground ball at third today and threw out the runner. He also collected an RBI double and two-run homer.

"He's looking good, he's looking real good," Machado said. "He's working. He's a workhorse and he's up for taking up that challenge. He's looking good, man. I think we're going to have a good infield, I think we're going to have a good team and we're going to surprise a lot of people."

Jason Gurka and Jhan Mariñez tossed a scoreless inning today and the Orioles continue to lead 10-8 in the bottom of the eighth.

Update: It's over. The Orioles win 10-8.