More on Schoop's RBIs, Castillo's bat and trade deadline talk

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who has been getting a lot of notice for his bat, and catcher Welington Castillo, who has gotten much less, both had big games Sunday in the Orioles' 10-6 win at Texas.

Schoop's RBI surge continued. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth and singled in a run an inning later for a 2-for-4 three-RBI day. Over his last 13 games, Schoop has at least one RBI 11 times and six times has produced multi-RBI games. Four times in the last 13 games, he has driven in three or more runs.

In that 13-game span, Schoop is batting .365 (19-for-52) with six homers and 22 RBIs. Schoop has now moved into second place in the American League with 76 RBIs, ahead of New York's Aaron Judge with 74. Only Seattle's Nelson Cruz, with 79, has more RBIs than Schoop in the AL.

Schoop's close friend, third baseman Manny Machado has watched the kid progress with the bat and turn into an All-Star this year.

"He works," Machado said. "He works every day. He doesn't stop every day. He's working with (hitting coach, Scott) Coolbaugh, he's working with Bobby (Dickerson, third base coach). He's become an all-around player. It was always there but this year he's a little more focused, doing his tee work, in the weight room. It's been awesome to watch and be on the same field as him."

Meanwhile, Castillo singled in a run in the fourth and hit a three-run homer in the fifth. He is batting .280/.318/.440 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in 245 plate appearances.

"Very quietly, the guy's hitting .280 with 10 home runs and not a whole lot of at-bats," manager Buck Showalter noted. "That was a big home run. Every run we could scratch across against them - you need margin of error in this place against that team. We had to use all our bullets to get there, to get 27 outs before they scored 10 runs."

Trade deadline talk: Showalter was asked where a series win in Texas and a 3-3 road trip leaves the Orioles in what was their final game before today's trade deadline. That deadline hits at 4 p.m. Eastern time.

"It leaves us spending three hours and forty minutes on the field winning a tough series, having a .500 road trip, getting on the plane and getting back to play Kansas City," he said. "Really, that's where everybody's focus is. I'm sure they have some private thoughts about it. They talk among themselves. They share each other's ... this team shares their ups and down and what people are feeling. They feel comfortable talking to each other about it. I haven't had many people I needed to talk to. I know Trum (Mark Trumbo), with all the stuff that went on today when he came [out] of the lineup. I'm hoping we can stay away from the DL with him. (Today) will be a big day because we're going to have to add (Jeremy) Hellickson to the roster."

Machado agreed with his manager's take that the Orioles players have been more focused on winning in recent days than concerned about trade speculation.

"We are trying to get on a roll and win some games," he said. "We are not really worried about who is going to get traded or what is going to happen. That's just something the front office can control. We just play baseball, get outs, key at-bats, play inning by inning and do the small things to keep us going."

Said Sunday's winning pitcher, Wade Miley: "Keep winning. I haven't thought about it one time. So there are guys in there, their names are being tossed around. But you just have to go out play. That is what we get paid to do for whatever team it's on."

Beltre's milestone hit: The Orioles spent the weekend in the midst of a lovefest for Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre - and they happily took part. They seem to love him, too, amid much admiration and respect for him. Beltre got career hit No. 3,000 yesterday with a fourth-inning double on a 3-0 pitch. Miley joined Dave McNally as the only two O's pitchers to give up a 3,000th hit while wearing the orange and black. Baltimorean Al Kaline got his 3,000th off McNally in 1974 for the Tigers.

"As a fan of the game, what a career that guy has had," Miley said. "I wasn't trying to let him get a hit by any means. But at the same time, as a fan, if it had to happen, that guy is an unbelievable player. Someone you want your kids to watch. That is the kind of respect I have for him and just one of those things that is a special moment for him. Let him celebrate. Congrats to that guy, and like I said, he's been fun to watch for the last 19 years, and hopefully he keeps rapping out some more."

Beltre became the 31st player to get 3,000 and 16th right-handed batter. He is the first Dominican-born player to do so. He is the fourth player to record at least 3,000 hits, 600 doubles and 450 homers, joining Hall of Famers Stan Musial, Hank Aaron and Carl Yastrzemski. He is the first player to reach 3,000 in a Texas uniform.

So as I get ready to board a early morning flight home, the Orioles have made just the Hellickson trade and the clock is ticking. Will they be active today before they play the Kansas City Royals at home tonight?