BALTIMORE -- After struggling earlier in the week, the Baltimore Orioles bats finally came alive in the series opener against the Houston Astros.Baltimore will look to keep that momentum going Friday.After scoring four runs in two games against Boston, the Orioles managed 18 hits in the 13-5 victory over the Astros on Thursday. Baltimore slugged six home runs and leads the majors with 183.It was big, said shortstop J.J. Hardy, who went deep twice. We havent been swinging the bats all that great, and to bust out like that. Hopefully, it keeps going and we can keep that confidence.The Orioles have spent 111 of 136 days in first place of the AL East this season, but have struggled since the All-Star break, going 16-17. However, with the win Thursday, the Orioles moved into a second-place tie with the Red Sox and trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 1 1/2 games in the American League East.Houston has lost five straight and is mired in third place in the AL West behind Texas and Seattle. The Astros, however, are still within striking distance in the wild card standings.When you play these four-game series, the first couple of games are key because it puts you in a powerful position to potentially win the series, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. We know these guys are in the middle of this race as well. I think it tells us how muddy the waters are going to be when it comes down to this. As much as wed like to watch what Baltimore is doing, or Detroit, or Toronto, or Boston, or Seattle, the teams that are in this race, we need to take care of ourselves. We need to win our own games and not worry about what everyone else is doing.Left-hander Wade Miley (7-10, 5.23 ERA) is still looking for his first win with the Orioles since being acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline. Miley has taken the loss in two of his past three starts. He didnt get a decision in his previous outing Saturday against the Giants when he allowed seven runs (six earned) in 4 1/3 innings. In his three starts with the Orioles, Miley has a 7.04 ERA, with a 8:5 strikeout to walk ratio.Collin McHugh (7-10, 4.70) gets the start for Houston and tries to snap a four-game losing streak. McHugh has not earned a win since July 23 against the Angels. In his last start, McHugh gave up three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays.McHugh will be challenged to contain the Orioles powerful lineup, which especially thrives at hitter-friendly Camden Yards. Baltimore owns the best home record in the American League at 40-19. Cheap Oakland Athletics Jerseys . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Cheap Miami Marlins Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.cheapworldseriesjerseys.com/cheap-colorado-rockies-jerseys/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Authentic MLB World Series Jerseys . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Cheap Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Its no easy thing to push Usain Bolt, even in an Olympic warm-up race.It might be even tougher to upstage him.Some of Wednesday nights most entertaining theater came, as usual, from the Jamaican star, who smiled and wagged his finger at a brash up-and-comer while winning his 200-meter semifinals heat. Bolt will go for his eighth Olympic gold in the final on Thursday.Bolts main goal during the opening rounds is to conserve energy, which is exactly what he was doing when he looked to his right, saw Canadas Andre de Grasse a few steps behind him and put it on cruise control.The only problem was, de Grasse, the bronze medalist in the 100, didnt back down. He sped up, caught up and suddenly, the two were nose-to-nose, peering and smiling at each other down the stretch. Bolt finished in 19.78 to win by a scant .02 seconds. He wagged his finger at de Grasse as they crossed the line.That was really unnecessary, Bolt said. I dont know what he was trying to do. Hes a young kid. Hes great. He has a lot of talent. Im looking forward to the competition in the final.The competition wont include American Justin Gatlin, who has given Bolt more run for his money than anyone else over the past four years.ddddddddddddIn the evenings biggest stunner, Gatlin finished third in his heat and did not qualify for the final.He said he rolled an ankle in the run-up to the Olympics and was happy just to make it here.Probably, I should have rested it instead of running on it, said Gatlin, who finished second to Bolt in the 100.Team USAs Lashawn Merritt did qualify for the final. He finished first in his semifinal and third overall with a time of 19.94.Joining Gatlin (20.13) in failing to qualify was American Ameer Webb (20.43).Bolt, who has his eyes on not only the win but maybe another world record, is hoping his time will come Thursday night.I definitely think I can try for the world record, said the sprinter, whose current record in the 200 stands at 19.19 seconds. But now, its executing right, running the corner efficiently and coming in the straight and running the perfect race.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '