Buck Showalter: "We're in for a long ride together"

The sun was shining this afternoon at Camden Yards, with a first-pitch temperature of 68 degrees. The stands were nearly full, the festive atmosphere spiked by a Mother's Day celebration.

Baseball weather had arrived, with rain leaving the forecast after a prolonged and unwanted stay, and manager Buck Showalter didn't want his team's performance to dampen the mood.

The Orioles fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning before showering the Athletics with home runs - a season-high six of them in an 11-3 victory before 43,690.

"With all the weather and all the stuff that we've played in through the season so far, you couldn't have dialed up a more perfect day to play baseball," Showalter said.

"The organization did a great job with the Mother's Day thing today out on the field. That was fun to watch. I went out and watched some of it. You just really want to play a good game, an entertaining game that you win on a day like today, because you don't get many opportunities where you've got a full house and the weather's letter perfect.

"It's kind of a Baltimore coming out after the winter and the weather that we've had in April, that you kind of get to say, 'OK.' This reminds us why we do what we do and why a lot of people in there work 9 to 5 out in the stands do what they do so they can come out and enjoy a game like today. That's what I take out of it."

All of the runs scored via the long ball. An offense that tends to disappear can just as easily announce its presence with authority.

A comfort for a manager?

"I don't know about comforting. It's about making guys pay for their mistakes," Showalter said. "We got down a quick 3-0 and it looked like another one of those that things were going kind of going to be falling for them."

Showalter begins to rattle off key plays that don't involve home runs. Danny Valencia thrown out at the plate to end the top of the first - Joey Rickard to Manny Machado to Matt Wieters, who made another outstanding pick and tag. Rickard making "four or five contributions defensively." Machado racing to catch Mark Trumbo's throw from right field that could have gone for an error, with Rickard backing up in left field. Jonathan Schoop making a nice tag on a stolen base attempt to complete a double play.

"Those are things that comfort me," Showalter said. "The other stuff kind of comes and goes. Those are things that allow you to be consistent."

Machado has been outstanding. His third career grand slam in the eighth inning gave him a career-high six RBIs and his seven career multi-homer game. He was coaxed out of the dugout for a curtain call.

It appears that Machado is taking his game to yet another level.

"I'll let you make that, is it 'analogy?' That comparison. But so far he has," Showalter said.

"He's in a good place. I like the calmness of the last at-bat. He didn't get out of himself much. I think he's come to grips with the respect that they have for him. It's no secret and he's kind of using it in his favor."

Machado has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, batting .400/.455/.800 with seven doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored. He's collected 24 extra-base hits this season - 15 doubles and nine home runs.

Machado is now batting .425 (31-for-73) with 11 doubles, seven home runs, 19 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 18 home games.

"His mother is sitting there today. You can't draw this stuff up," Showalter said. "You take that out of games like this. I was telling myself in the dugout, you don't get to see this many things in one day.

"You don't know how they'll handle the good fortune. We're at the mercy of the mothers and fathers of the world. How do you handle it? I've been proud of him. Since the first day of spring training, he was very focused and very driven. When I hear him talking about being as good a teammate as he can be, certainly the peers help. He and Jonathan are good for each other."

Pedro Alvarez hit his second home run as an Oriole, this one hitting the warehouse on one bounce.

"That was a big ol' boy home run," Showalter said. "That was kind of a reminder, 'I can do that, too.'"

Chris Tillman registered his fourth quality start in a row, allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings and striking out four of the last five batters he faced to give him seven on the day. He tends to struggle in his first inning and today was no exception, but he didn't surrender another run.

"You remind yourself about Chris," Showalter said. "You get something back in return for it. He's easy to trust. He gets frustrated by it, but he doesn't sit around there and ...

"He gave up three, and then the offense jumped right back into it. It was a big home run by Manny, the first one."

Many more followed and the Orioles pocketed another series win. Any concerns about the offense were muted as the ovations grew louder.

"We don't panic when we get behind," Showalter said. "I think it helps the pitchers, too. We're going to have some games where you have to win 1-0, 2-1. It's going to be a long, challenging season. We're in for a long ride together. Our guys all know that maturely speaking. Try not to get too high or low.

"Days like this, you do need to kind of say it was fun to be a part of. Then you walk out the door and get on the plane for three days of rain in Minnesota."