Manny Machado on the offense against Chris Archer, Chris Tillman on the pitching

He might be one of the best pitchers in the American League, but Tampa Bay right-hander Chris Archer does not have a good record against the Orioles. He is now 2-5 with a 5.03 ERA in 10 career games after the Orioles beat him 6-1 tonight.

Archer allowed a career-high four homers with three coming in the fifth inning in a span of five batters.

What was the key against Archer tonight?

"Just patiently waiting," Manny Machado said after hitting his second homer of the season. "Wait him out. He's one of the best pitchers in the game and we knew it would be a tough one. He had one bad inning and we took advantage of it. Have to keep grinding and play as a team as we are.

"There is no beating around the bush about this lineup. I think eight of the nine guys have hit 20 homers in the past. We're going to hit the ball and hopefully when the weather gets warmer the ball starts flying a little more. It's there. Everyone knows the lineup we have."

Nolan Reimold and Machado hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning tonight. Jonathan Schoop started the inning with a solo blast to center and Chris Davis started the onslaught with a home run in the second inning.

"Been fun," Machado said of the team's 4-0 start. "Everyone was anxious to get out there. We are trying to get into a groove. Trying to get a feel for everybody and the lineup. We're settling in and we're just going to keep playing baseball."

Machado gave some credit to O's pitchers, who have allowed two runs or less each game and have a team ERA of 1.50 right now.

"Whatever is working for them, keep doing it," he said. "We've got a great defense behind them. They just have to keep us close and we'll do everything possible to get ahead."

Machado made his seventh career start at shortstop tonight as J.J. Hardy was out of the lineup with tightness in his calf.

"Felt good. Just trying to make plays, make the outs and keep it simple," Machado said of his night at short.

Pitching on three day's rest, opening day starter Chris Tillman gave up just one run and four hits over five innings to improve to 1-0 with an ERA of 1.29.

"It was okay," he said of his 83-pitch outing. "The command was a little bit off, especially early. It kind of got better right towards the end. I was able to command the fastball better, as well as the changeup. Threw some real good changeups later on in the game to help me get through that."

Any issues pitching on three day's rest?

"No. I felt good. I felt good throughout and I feel like I still had a lot more in the tank. But be smart this time of year and get you to real late in the season. Don't want to make any mistakes right now."

Tillman enjoyed the homer barrage.

"It's fun every time the Orioles hit a homer," he said. "I enjoy it every time. Especially off a guy like that. That guy's good. He's real good. Fortunately for us he did make some mistakes."

Tillman was asked about the strong start for the pitching staff. In four games they've allowed seven runs on 26 hits with nine walks and 42 strikeouts.

"It's been good so far," he said. "Don't want to get too far ahead ourselves with a long season to go. So far, so good. I think we haven't gotten real deep in games yet and the bullpen has done an outstanding job. Tyler (Wilson) picked me up the first time and T.J. (McFarland) did a great job tonight. The back end of our bullpen will do what they do. Throw the ball consistently. It's been fun to watch."

The Orioles have now won four or more consecutive games to begin a season for the eighth time in team history. Their best mark was 5-0 in 1970.