Showalter on Trumbo: "He's got an interesting future" (O's up 6-0)

The Orioles are tied with the Tigers for the second wild card and can reclaim sole possession with a win tonight.

Mark Trumbo has hit the game-winning home run in three of the Orioles' last four victories, including last night's walk-off in the 12th inning. The surge began with his shot off Rick Porcello in a 1-0 win on Sept. 14 at Fenway Park.

Trumbo continues to lead the majors with 44 home runs, a tremendous return for backup catcher Steve Clevenger in the Dec. 2 trade with the Mariners.

"I had a lot of people that I talked to about Mark who spoke very highly of him," said manager Buck Showalter. "We don't ever take for granted ... We thought he was pretty good. I didn't know how good he was. We felt like he would be a good fit in how we have to do things and how the clubhouse has to work and everything else. He's been a real contributor from that standpoint.

"Doesn't take himself too seriously. Very humble. There are times when, around him, you think he thinks he's never going to hit another home run and has never hit one his whole life. He never has an off-day in concentration. He's been fun to watch.

"It's another one of those years where he's doing some things historically. We've got three or four of those things going on that I think we're so close to it, we don't realize it. He's been a healthy guy, too. This is a conversation for another day, but he's got an interesting future. I think he's becoming a better hitter and smarter. He hits the ball as hard and as far as you'd want to see. He doesn't have to catch all of it."

It's not necessary to watch Trumbo to appreciate him in the batter's box. Just take in the sound.

"He's one of those guys you like to listen to hit," Showalter said. "There's that little click - four or five of our guys have it - instead of whack, it's click that you hear when he catches the ball square. Jonathan (Schoop) has it. Sometimes, it's kind of a smothered home run. It's been fun to watch so many balls land in a hurry."

The curiosity comes from Trumbo being traded three times in his seven-year major league career. Angels to Diamondbacks in December 2013, Diamondbacks to Mariners in June 2015 and Mariners to Orioles last winter. Jerry DiPoto dealt him twice with two organizations.

"Must have really liked who they were getting back. I can't tell you that," Showalter said.

"I remember the first time I saw Mark in Anaheim, I said, 'Boy, this guy can really backspin a ball.' Got great leverage. Doesn't work under many pitches.

"He's one of those guys when I'm walking around the field during BP and it's his group, I'm watching real close. I don't trust my body that I can get out of the way if it's right at me. Really. Certain guys, you know their ball's going to be tailing one way or the other. When he squares it up and it's knuckling out there, it's not a good idea.

"He's got some good years ahead of him. Takes great care of himself, funny, dry, and always watching. You see a lot of guys always going up for video or going up for something. Mark very seldom ... he's watching the pitcher. He's really good at picking out some of their tendencies. He's a real student of hitting."

Trumbo is a pending free agent and could be playing elsewhere next season. Meanwhile, the Orioles would like to bring back all of their coaches.

"I'm really happy with our coaching staff. I think it's one of our real assets here and the continuity of it," Showalter said.

Executive Dan Duquette will wait until after the season to discuss personnel, but he'd also like to maintain the continuity with the group.

This includes assistant hitting coach Mark Quinn, in his first season with the club.

"Mark Quinn has done a good job for us this year," Showalter said.

Pitching coach Dave Wallace has returned home multiple times this season for family matters and will decide following the season whether he wants to stay with the Orioles in 2017.

"What we have talked about is that we'll talk about it at the end of the year," Showalter said. "His whole focus is here every day and he's in constant communication when he does have to be gone.

"He, like all of us, has some challenges. Dave's always going to have his priorities in the right place. We're lucky to have him."

Update: The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Manny Machado's RBI single and went ahead 2-0 in the second on J.J. Hardy's sacrifice fly to left field.

Left-hander Robbie Ray let the first four batters reach, but the Orioles settled for one run after Trey Mancini struck out looking and Jonathan Schoop bounced into a 1-2-3 double play.

Ray threw 28 pitches in the first.

Matt Wieters led off the second with double and took third on right fielder Yasmany Tomas' error. Hardy followed with his 47th RBI.

Update II: Trey Mancini led off the fourth inning with his third major league home run in three starts, and Chris Davis delivered a two-out, two-strike, two-run single to increase the lead to 4-0 and end Ray's night.

Ray walked Adam Jones intentionally to face Davis. Jones has 38 walks, two more than his career high set in 2009.

Update III: Mark Trunbo led off the fifth inning with his 45th home run and fourth in nine games to give the Orioles a 6-0 lead.

Miley has thrown 79 pitches in six scoreless innings.