O's notes on the longball, Trumbo's return, Janish's defense

ANAHEIM, Calif - The longball mashers were at it again last night at Angel Stadium. Two homers to start the game, three in three innings and four for the night.

For the fourth time in the last 11 games and sixth time in the 2016 season, the Orioles hit four or more homers in a game. They are 6-0 when they hit at least four over the wall. The Orioles have hit 24 home runs their past 11 games.

Joey Rickard and Manny Machado began the game with blasts of 402 and 427 feet, respectively, going back-to-back off lefty Hector Santiago. Mark Trumbo hit a two-shot in the third and Chris Davis added a two-run homer in the seventh to break a 4-4 tie.

Machado was in a 2-for-26 drought over his previous six games when he smoked that homer to right-center in the first inning. Manager Buck Showalter was asked if a suddenly slumping Machado needed that swing.

"I don't think he needs that type of thing," Showalter said. "He is a pretty confident guy and is very aware of what he is capable of doing. He knows he'll be in there the next day if he struggles. He sets such a high bar. You know what some people might consider struggling, other people would take in blood. I just like the way he's playing and all our guys are playing on both sides of the ball."

Trumbo was asked about the feeling on the bench when the Orioles are hitting a lot of homers.

"It is a lot of fun obviously. I think it can create some confidence for you, watching guys go up there and do it before you," he said. "Watching both Rick and Manny go up there and hammer balls, that is a good sign."

The Orioles posted a 9-4 win over the Angels Friday and that is a good start to a three-city, nine-game road trip.

"Yeah, no doubt," Trumbo said. "That is exactly the type of game we are capable of playing. It is the start of a long road trip and that was a good sign."

Trumbo was a popular interview in the Orioles clubhouse yesterday both before and after the game. Showalter was also asked about him during his pregame session with the media. Trumbo played 460 games here from 2010 through 2013 with the Angels and is still popular at the park they call the Big A.

Showalter was asked if there is anything he's learned or appreciates more about Trumbo that he didn't know before he became his manager.

"Oh, a lot," he said. "We did some homework on him. We'd thought he'd be a real seamless fit. He's a student of hitting. Wants to be good at everything - running the bases, playing defense. He doesn't take any part of it off. He's been a real good teammate. (Even if you) throw out statistics, he's just been a good fit for us since the first day of spring.

"Guys like Mark, they keep learning, they keep taking in things. He makes some loud noises when he squares a ball up. Some home runs he hits you should get a run and a quarter for them. It shouldn't be one run."

There are 20 players that have hit 10 or more homers in the majors to this point and three are Orioles. Trumbo has 13, Machado 12 and Davis 10.

Major league team homer leaders:
61 - Orioles
60 - Tampa Bay
57 - Seattle, New York Mets
55 - St. Louis

The Orioles played a strong game on defense Friday night. Paul Janish started at third base and made at least three outstanding plays, twice diving to his left to field the ball.

"I was, I guess, kind of the victim of circumstance, right?" Janish said. "They hit a bunch of balls at me. Fortunately, I was able to make some good plays. Obviously, as the night went on, they got back in the game on us but we pulled away to get the win in the end."

The Angels were the hotter team at the start of this series, winning six of their last seven, while the Orioles were coming off their first home series loss of the season. Los Angeles had scored 52 runs over its previous eight games. But the Orioles scored the game's last five runs to win last night.

It was a good start to a nine-game road trip.