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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.Wholesale Yeezy 350 v2 Womens . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Supreme Black/Red . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/ . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Fake Yeezys For Sale . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Cheap Yeezy 350 Citrin . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence.OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- In his first regular season game since last November, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will wear a brace on his surgically repaired left knee.He knows the brace probably wont go unnoticed by fans, or the Buffalo Bills.Flacco returns Sunday to face Rex Ryans Bills, a team that usually makes pressuring the quarterback its No. 1 priority.Rex always likes to come after people. Thats his nature, Flacco said Wednesday. I dont think hes going to blitz me just to see if my knee will hold up. But maybe.Flacco is one of several Baltimore starters eager to get on the field again after watching the latter part of last season from the sideline. The Ravens placed 20 players on injured reserve, including linebacker Terrell Suggs, running back Justin Forsett and receivers Steve Smith and Breshad Perriman.That goes a long way explaining why Baltimore finished 5-11.Flacco tore his ACL and MCL in November; Suggs ruptured his Achilles in the opener; Forsett broke his arm in the same game that Flacco went down in; Smith tore his Achilles on Nov. 1; and Perriman, the teams top draft pick in 2015, never played a down after tearing knee ligaments during the first practice of training camp.The 37-year-old Smith intended for the 2015 season to be his last. He then decided he didnt want to go limping into retirement.Asked what he was most looking forward to on Sunday, Smith replied, Just taking the time to enjoy being with my teammates and having fun. Im excited to play with Breshad. The young man has been through a lot.So has Smith, who worked feverishly to be ready for the 2016 opener. Even after the rehabilitation process was over, there was still the matter of getting in shape to play football.You cant just go from not playing to all of a sudden playing, Smith said. When I was cleared, I was hurting. The hamstrings were tight, the calves were tight.None of the players returning from innjury saw extensive action during the preseason.dddddddddddd Smith didnt play at all, Flacco and Suggs played less than a half and Forsett had seven carries for 11 yards.Adding to Forsetts strange preseason was his release Saturday and subsequent return Monday. Forsett knew the Ravens were merely using him to manipulate the roster, but many of his friends were concerned that his career might be over.I was able to watch my own funeral happen, Forsett said with a chuckle.He intends to be rather active against Buffalo.Feed me, Forsett said. Its been a long journey back, and Im excited to get back out there with my boys.So is Suggs, who has essentially played in only one game thats mattered since the end of the 2014 season.Theres nothing like opening day and live bullets, he said. But its going to be like riding a bike. After the first couple of plays, you kind of get back into it and start to do what you do best. Its going to be fun.Flacco played in 137 straight games (including playoffs) before his injury. He missed the final six games and hated every minute of it.It was definitely a tough process, watching all your teammates go out there and play, he said. Im definitely excited to get back out there and be a part of the group.No one on the team has waged more of a fight to return that tight end Dennis Pitta, whos on target to play in his first game since Sept. 23, 2014. Pitta has played in only seven games since the start of the 2013 season because of a bothersome hip that hes injured and re-injured.I know what hes capable of when hes playing at a high level, Flacco said. He hasnt played a game in a very long time, so yeah, its a little bit different. But I expect him to adjust to it relatively quickly.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '