masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWhen the Orioles got six earned runs off Minnesota right-hander Carl Pavano on March 22, it was in a spring training game that didn’t count.

When they got to him today, it did count.

In the spring outing, the Orioles had eight hits in just four innings against Pavano. Last year, in two starts against the Orioles, he was 0-2 with an ERA of 8.49, giving up 11 earned runs over 11 2/3 innings in two starts.

Nick Markakis entered today 6-for-19 off the righty but without a career homer off him….When the Orioles got six earned runs off Minnesota right-hander Carl Pavano on March 22, it was in a spring training game that didn’t count.

When they got to him today, it did count.

In the spring outing, the Orioles had eight hits in just four innings against Pavano. Last year, in two starts against the Orioles, he was 0-2 with an ERA of 8.49, giving up 11 earned runs over 11 2/3 innings in two starts.

Nick Markakis entered today 6-for-19 off the righty but without a career homer off him. He changed that today in the last of the first with a two-run shot.

I always think it’s a great sign for Markakis and his offense when we see him drive the ball to left center like he did on the homer.

The Orioles added to their lead today with a run in the fourth. Adam Jones doubled, sending Markakis, who had walked, to third. Markakis scored on a Matt Wieters’ groundout.

Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta, who went 5-0 with a 3.09 ERA in six starts last year against the AL Central, has blanked the Twins through five.

The Orioles are 36-22 all-time on opening day. They are 27-13 when the opening game is in Baltimore and 12-4 when it is at Camden Yards.