Baltimore Orioles: 5 Things We Learned from Opening Day Victory vs. Rays

The Baltimore Orioles faced off against the Tampa Bay Rays for their Opening Day game.  

After a back-and-forth first few innings, Baltimore exploded for five runs in the seventh, prompting a 7-4 Orioles victory.

With the first game of the season now in the books for the Orioles, here are five important things we can take away from Tuesday's season opener.

The Orioles Will Not Struggle Offensively

Not many bad things can be said about the Orioles' offensive production on Tuesday. Baltimore totaled 13 hits against the Rays, six of which went for extra bases.  

In addition to the team's 13 hits, every Orioles hitter tallied at least one hit (with the exception of DH Steve Pearce), and four hitters accounted for two or more hits.

Adam Jones and Matt Wieters put their power bats on display early. Jones hit a double with two outs in the first, and shortly after, Wieters knocked him in on a two-run homer.  Both Jones and Wieters would add another double each later on in the game, providing the much expected power at the heart of the order.

Another performance that cannot go unmentioned is that of Chris Davis. Davis hit a crucial three-run blast off of Rays reliever Jake McGee in the top of the seventh after an intentional walk to Matt Wieters.

Sure, every team is going to have its ups and downs during the season, but if this lineup can stay healthy, the Orioles should see another successful year at the plate.

The Orioles Are Not a Team to Be Intimidated

Going up against a high-caliber pitcher on Opening Day can be tough for any team.

It can be even more difficult when starting the season against the previous year's Cy Young winner, which is just who the Orioles faced in David Price on Tuesday.

Price stifled the Orioles all of last season. In his three starts against the O's in 2012, he went 2-1, allowing only two runs and striking out Orioles hitters a total of 20 times in their three matchups.  

Things would be different for the Orioles on Tuesday.

Baltimore's lineup gave Price fits, lighting him up for seven hits over six innings and getting on base twice via the walk.

While Price only allowed two runs, both coming in the first inning, the Orioles were able to drive him to 100 pitches after six innings, ending his day on the mound.

Brian Roberts and Nolan Reimold Appear Healthy and Ready to Go

One of the biggest questions for the Orioles heading into Opening Day was how ready Brian Roberts and Nolan Reimold would be, as both players missed almost all of last season due to an injury.  

If Tuesday was any indication, they won't miss a beat this season if they stay healthy.

Roberts and Reimold combined for four hits in eight at-bats while striking out only once. Reimold was also tested early in the field in the bottom of the first inning.

After a two-run first inning for the Orioles, Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings led off the bottom of the inning. He drove a ball deep to left field in what appeared to be a certain extra-base hit. However, Reimold would have none of it, displaying great range in the outfield and making an over-the-shoulder grab on the warning track for the out.

It's been widely thought that with Reimold and Roberts healthy, the Orioles will see a much improved lineup compared to 2012. Just one game into the season, their impact has already been felt.

Jason Hammel Doesn't Always Have to Pitch Like an Ace to Be Productive

Jason Hammel did not have the stuff he had last season in his first start with the Orioles.  

You might remember that in the third game of the 2012 season against the Twins, Hammel flirted with a no-hitter. But that was not the case for Tuesday.

While he may not have had his best stuff on the mound, he was still good enough to get the win.

Hammel said himself that he did not think he had much to do with the Orioles' victory Tuesday, which is saying a lot for a guy who held one of the top lineups in the AL East to just three hits and three earned runs over six innings of work.  

Had it not been for the five-run outburst by the Birds in the top of the seventh inning, Hammel likely would have left the game with a no-decision. But he remained effective enough to give the Orioles and himself a chance to win.

Jim Johnson and the Orioles' Bullpen Began Right Where They Left off

After the sixth inning of Tuesday's game, Orioles manager Buck Showalter elected to go to the bullpen, a bullpen that's expected to once again be at the top of the league, just as it was last season.

Troy Patton was the first member of the Orioles 'pen to make his 2013 debut. He was brought in to face Rays left-handed hitter Matt Joyce, but the Rays pinch hit with Ryan Roberts to offset the lefty-versus-lefty matchup.  Patton went on to give up a single to Roberts and retire shortstop Yunel Escobar before being pulled for Darren O'Day.

O'Day then pitched the rest of the seventh and eighth inning for the Orioles before yielding to closer Jim Johnson in the ninth.  

Overall, the Orioles' bullpen combined to pitch three innings, giving up only three hits and no earned runs, with Johnson recording his first save on the season.

With a young and still relatively inexperienced pitching rotation, the Orioles will have to rely heavily on performances like this out of their bullpen.