masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have won their first two games in 2016. They just have 160 to go for that elusive undefeated season.
Then come the playoffs, of course.
Zach Britton recorded his 74th career save to tie Eddie Watt for seventh on the Orioles’ all-time list. He ranks third among left-handers behind Tippy Martinez (105) and Randy Myers (76).
Manager Buck Showalter said he’s unaware of any injury to center fielder Adam Jones, who’s looked uncomfortable after a couple of swings in the first two games,…

The Orioles have won their first two games in 2016. They just have 160 to go for that elusive undefeated season.

Then come the playoffs, of course.

britton-pitch-white-sidebar.jpgZach Britton recorded his 74th career save to tie Eddie Watt for seventh on the Orioles’ all-time list. He ranks third among left-handers behind Tippy Martinez (105) and Randy Myers (76).

Manager Buck Showalter said he’s unaware of any injury to center fielder Adam Jones, who’s looked uncomfortable after a couple of swings in the first two games, including his strikeout tonight in the ninth inning.

“I’m not sure,” Showalter said. “I know he’s a little frustrated. He missed a breaking ball strike. When I get the update, I don’t look up. Everybody seemed to look all right. I just move on.”

Fans also were asking about Britton’s knee, because he kept reaching for it. Britton said he was adjusting his pants.

I suppose it’s never too soon to panic over injuries. Or pants.

Chris Davis hit the Orioles’ first home run this season and now has 550 career RBIs. His 160 homers rank first in the majors since 2012.

Davis, who doesn’t seem to be feeling any pressure over his a $161 million contract, also is one hit shy of 800.

“I noticed very early on, I think Chris seems to be in a rhythm about a lot of things in his life,” Showalter said. “You always wonder how things like that are going to affect people, but early on in the spring you could tell he was the right kind of comfortable. He had a great spring all the way around, work-wise, engaged and everything. He’s been in a good place since he got to spring training. He just seems to be in a good rhythm about his life. I’m real proud of him.

“Chris has been instrumental for us defensively the first two games. A reminder of just how good an all-around player he is. He had a great spring defensively, worked hard at it.”

Matt Wieters had two hits in two games, with a double, two RBIs and a walk. Caleb Joseph will start behind the plate Thursday night.

Yovani Gallardo is 1-0 with an 0.82 ERA in two career starts at Camden Yards. He allowed one run and two hits in five innings tonight and left after throwing 89 pitches.

“We wanted to take him around 90 tonight,” Showalter said. “He threw 70 his last time. Would have liked to get one more inning out of him. Had to work to get it done. But he was effective.”

Gallardo vowed to take his game to the next level once the Orioles broke camp.

“I think he’s getting there,” Showalter said. “He’s a guy who’s going to add and subtract. I think he’s a guy who’s kind of evolved and knows who he is and who he isn’t. A guy who keeps you in the ballgame and gives you a chance to win it if you catch it and score some runs. On a given night, he’s carrying a little extra stuff, get a little deeper in the game. He’s a pitcher and he doesn’t give in in counts and knows when to pitch backward.”

Gallardo definitely was working deep into counts tonight.

“It’s not something he’s just doing the last year,” Showalter said. “He’s always been that type of guy that, he’s not going to give in and there’s going to be some 0-2 to 2-2 and 3-2, but you’re going to have to … there’s not a lot of early weak contact because he doesn’t give in early. He’s trying to make quality pitches every time. See how many pitches just missed tonight. You’ll see a lot of that, I think. Watching him the last couple of years, that’s kind of who he is.”

The Orioles drew six more walks tonight, giving them 11 in the series.

“So far, it’s been good,” Showalter said. “And Minnesota’s an organization that habitually through the years has always been guys who don’t walk people, so it’s a real tribute to our guys the last two games. But we have 160 more. So far, so good.”

Mychal Givens was charged with two runs on opening day and he served up a home run tonight to Trevor Plouffe in the sixth inning. Eddie Rosario followed with a single, but Givens struck out Byung Ho Park.

“I felt really good out there,” he said. “Ten strikes out of 13 pitches is really good. It’s just right now, baseball has that weird unlucky thing right now for me, but I’ll get back in the saddle. Having a great bullpen like we had last year and the great bullpen we have this year, they came back and helped me. I’m going to get through it.”

Plouffe hit a slider over the left field fence.

“It stayed up and didn’t get down in the zone to bury it,” Givens said. “It stayed up and he put a good swing on it. Next time I face him I’ll probably get him, so that’s baseball.”