masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgARLINGTON, Texas – Mark Trumbo has hit five home runs in the last five games, and he’s in the Orioles lineup again tonight with a chance to do more damage.
According to Elias, Trumbo is the first Oriole to hit five home runs in his first 10 games with the team. Nine players hit four homers through 10 games, most recently Todd Zeile, Rafael Palmeiro and Mike Pagliarulo.
Trumbo has 17 career home runs against the Rangers, the second-highest total of any opponent since 2011 behind the Angels’…

ARLINGTON, Texas – Mark Trumbo has hit five home runs in the last five games, and he’s in the Orioles lineup again tonight with a chance to do more damage.

According to Elias, Trumbo is the first Oriole to hit five home runs in his first 10 games with the team. Nine players hit four homers through 10 games, most recently Todd Zeile, Rafael Palmeiro and Mike Pagliarulo.

Trumbo has 17 career home runs against the Rangers, the second-highest total of any opponent since 2011 behind the Angels’ Mike Trout (18). He’s hit 11 home runs at Globe Life Park, the most in any opponent’s ballpark.

Trumbo is in right field tonight, with Pedro Alvarez serving as the designated hitter against Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis. Joey Rickard remains in left field.

Yovani-Gallardo-via-Orioles-sidebar.jpgYovani Gallardo will try to go more than five innings for the first time in three starts.

Asked yesterday how he’s changed as a pitcher since last season, Gallardo said, “I think I’d say I go about it the same way I did last year, to be honest.”

“Last year, a lot of people kind of doubted me coming in from the National League, coming over the American League,” he said. “Was I going to be able to pitch in the American League? And I pitched the same way I’d been pitching throughout my career. Nothing has changed. That’s the way that I pitch.

“For me, it’s just a matter of you just have got to go out there and make pitches, make pitches no matter what the situation is. I was able to do that last year and I think this year it’s helped me out, just helped me for this year for sure, just to get that first year in the American League. And now I’m in the American League East.

“Just experience, to be honest. The first couple starts I had last year were a little bit different, being here from the National League. But you’ve got to make adjustments. It’s a game of adjustments, no matter what the situation is.”

A slight drop in velocity could bring more adjustments, though Gallardo’s main focus remains to keep the ball down and use the defense behind him.

“I wouldn’t say less fastballs, it’s just one of those things that I throw cutters now, which a lot of people just say it’s a slider,” Gallardo said. “I think that’s the whole thing that they say, well he’s throwing 80 percent sliders but they’re really cut fastballs and that sort of thing.

“I’ve always said in previous years, if I’m able to get a guy out in two or three pitches, I’m up for it. That’s going to make it easier on me, that sort of thing, instead of throwing six or seven pitches every single time and not being able to command it, not being around the zone. That’s the most important thing, location over velocity. That’s what I’ve learned throughout my career. It’s helped me. It’s helped me quite a bit.”

For the Orioles
Joey Rickard LF
Manny Machado 3B
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Mark Trumbo RF
Matt Wieters C
J.J. Hardy SS
Pedro Alvarez DH
Jonathan Schoop 2B

Yovani Gallardo RHP

For the Rangers
Delino DeShields CF
Nomar Mazara RF
Prince Fielder DH
Adrian Beltre 3B
Mitch Moreland 1B
Ryan Rua LF
Rougned Odor2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Brett Nicholas C

Colby Lewis RHP

Down on the farm, Double-A Bowie first baseman Trey Mancini hit his fifth home run this afternoon, a two-run shot, and also added a two-run single and a double.