The O's excitement builds (plus Machado note)

Nothing like a comeback win over a good team to add to the excitement around Baltimore with this Orioles start. This was probably the best win of the year, as the Birds came back three different times to beat the Tigers, 9-5. At 5-1, they lead the American League East by a game over Toronto and New York as the team with the best record in the AL, Texas at 6-0, now heads to town. Let's not bubble over with too much enthusiasm, but Friday's game features the teams with the two best records in the American League and Zach Britton is scheduled to pitch. Anything big happening in Baltimore Friday night? Adam Jones, who entered the game hitting just .105, dropped a beautiful bunt single and then stole a base in the second inning. Later, his big two-run homer tied the game. Mark Reynolds, who seems to have a penchant for clutch hits delivered a big two-run double, Vladimir Guerrero hit his first homer and the O's offense broke out big time. The Orioles had scored just 20 runs in the season's first five games, but they came up with nine to get Thursday's win. During the first four wins, the O's used defense and pitching to post victories. The last two nights they have not gotten a quality start, but they still gained one win. Some things are coming together during a 5-1 start. Last year, the O's didn't win their fifth game until the 23rd game of the year. They didn't win their second series until May 13th. The excitement is building indeed. In the minors Thursday: O's 2010 first-round draft pick, Manny Machado, delivered the game's biggest hit to lead Delmarva past Greensboro 2-1 at Perdue Stadium in the Shorebirds' season opener. In his South Atlantic League debut, Machado went 2-for-3. His two-run triple in the 6th drove in both Delmarva runs. Machado blasted his triple to the warning track in right center to lead the Shorebirds. He has now played ten games in the O's minors dating to last year and is batting .333 with a homer and 7 RBI in those games with a double and two triples.