Faith in Pearce paying off for Showalter

BALTIMORE -- Steve Pearce had a .150 batting average entering the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, and while that's not where he'd like to be, it's a big improvement from where the designated hitter stood a few days ago.

Pearce went hitless in his first two at-bats against the Rays on Thursday night, which left him 0-for-15 on the season. But Pearce has heated up, going 3-for-5 since and improving his average to .150.

He made the team thanks to a big seven-homer Spring Training, and it is why manager Buck Showalter said before Thursday's game that, even though he knew Pearce's numbers weren't great to start the season, everything would be fine.

"He's a Major League hitter," Showalter said before that game.

Pearce has made Showalter look good since that point.

He hit a two-run homer in that game, then drove in a run in Baltimore's 7-5 Game 1 win Saturday against the Dodgers.