Young prospect Machado delivering for Orioles

Hear that sound? It's all the doubters climbing on the bandwagon.

That's what happens when a highly touted 20-year-old in his second big league game unloads for two home

runs and four RBIs.

Manny Machado -- promoted to the Orioles Thursday to play an unnatural position for a club in the

playoff hunt -- launched himself into Orioles lore, just as he touched off a pair of long homers to left

field.

In just his second game -- he was 2-for-4 with a triple in his debut Thursday -- Machado became the

youngest Oriole to homer twice in one game.

Machado was challenged Friday in his first start against a right-hander. Some wondered whether Machado

would platoon at third base, starting against lefties, but not righties. So much for that notion.

The Orioles will continue to try -- as much as possible -- to keep the pressure off Machado, who never

appeared at Class AAA Norfolk. He batted eighth in Friday's 7-1 victory over Kansas City. Manager Buck

Showalter has raved about Machado, but won't put Machado in a tough spot where he has to perform.

He's already begun to fit in in the Orioles clubhouse -- where he's the only player unable to have a

beer after a game. Teammates Adam Jones and Robert Andino gave him a shaving cream pie to the face -- a

tradition now on this club -- after his break-out game.