The National League rules seem to suit the Orioles just fine. Zach Britton had an RBI double Friday night in Washington. Chris Jakubauskas tormented the Nationals with two hits yesterday. And Jake Arrieta blooped a run-scoring single into right field in the first inning tonight to give the Orioles a 5-0 lead over the Pirates.

Arrieta was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout before tonight. The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate against Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton. Robert Andino's single scored Derrek Lee and allowed Arrieta to bat, rather than lead off the top of the second. Lee came home on an aggressive send by third base coach Willie Randolph. My immediate thought: Willie Randolph is coaching third base? I don't know the reason, but I do know this: The Orioles love scoring runs for Arrieta. Update: Arrieta won't get a quality start tonight because manager Buck Showalter removed him after five innings and only 87 pitches. Arrieta allowed three runs and three hits, walked two and struck out two. He needed only eight pitches to get through the fifth, but Showalter was growing impatient as Arrieta kept going deep in counts with a big lead.