masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles jumped on Royals starter Wade Davis for two runs in the top of the first inning, as they continue to take early leads and take advantage of their opponents’ shoddy defense.

Nate McLouth drew a leadoff walk and scored on an error by Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas, making me wonder whether the Royals watched video of the Rangers series.

Nick Markakis singled, and Chris Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 2-0.

Matt Wieters also singled, extending his…The Orioles jumped on Royals starter Wade Davis for two runs in the top of the first inning, as they continue to take early leads and take advantage of their opponents’ shoddy defense.

Nate McLouth drew a leadoff walk and scored on an error by Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas, making me wonder whether the Royals watched video of the Rangers series.

Nick Markakis singled, and Chris Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 2-0.

Matt Wieters also singled, extending his hitting streak to five games.

Wieters is now 8-for-17 with two RBIs and four runs scored in his last five games. He’s 11-for-27 in his last eight games.

Wieters’ average is up to .244. It was .232 at the break.

Machado was wearing his batting gloves when he reached on the error.

Glove is a many-splendored thing.

Machado kept the gloves on in the second inning and struck out with the bases loaded and no outs. Wanna bet that he’s gloveless in his next at-bat?

Markakis also struck out and Adam Jones was robbed on a diving catch by center fielder Lorenzo Cain, as the Orioles failed to capitalize on the bases-loaded, no-out opportunity. Cain probably saved three runs.

The Orioles are 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position in two innings, and they’ve stranded five runners. Before tonight, they were 12-for-27 (.444) in their last two games with RISP after going 12-for-58 (.207) in their previous nine games.

Henry Urrutia, making his second major league start, singled into left field in the second inning. He punched a 95 mph fastball into left field, making him 2-for-6 in three games, including his pinch-hitting appearances last night.

The Orioles have won seven of their last eight games and are a season-high 13 games above .500. The Orioles, Red Sox, Rangers, Cardinals and Pirates are the only teams at least four games over .500 at home and on the road.

In the last eight games since July 10, the Orioles have gone 7-1 and their starters have registered a 3.00 ERA in 54 innings. They’ve posted quality starts in each win.

Update: Wieters doubled after Chris Davis led off the third with a single, making the Orioles’ catcher 9-for-18 in his last five games and 12-for-28 in his last eight.

And I was told there would be no math.

Davis scored on J.J. Hardy’s grounder, and Wieters scored on Urrutia’s second hit of the night to increase the lead to 4-0.

Urrutia again punched the ball to left field. Davis wants to punch a wall. He’s finally out of the game after walking McLouth with two outs in the third.

Hammerin’ Hank is 2-for-2 with an RBI tonight. He’s now batting .429 with two RBIs.