Role players carrying several hot bats for O's

PHILADELPHIA -- Winners of eight of nine and 11 of 13, the Orioles' offense is clicking, averaging more than six runs per game over that stretch and scoring nine or more in three of those games. Much of this production has come from players who don't often see plenty of playing time.

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Though this scenario is a manager's dream -- getting quality at-bats from role players even when your marquee stars have an off-night -- it also has a catch, something Buck Showalter remarked on after Wednesday's 6-4 win in Philadelphia.

"If one has to take a blow, then the next one can step in there," Showalter said. "Unfortunately, we've got about 35 of them, and it's hard to hold them all."

Video: BAL@PHI: Lough doubles in a pair in the 4th inning

Less-heralded Orioles such as David Lough, Travis Snider and Chris Parmelee were the ones to step up Wednesday by driving in four of the team's six runs, two of which came from solo shots by Parmelee and Snider.

Snider's home run was his second of the year, but he said postgame that some of his teammates had been razzing him and saying it felt like it had been a couple of years since his last big fly. Jokes aside, Snider said his homer and the contributions of his teammates perfectly encapsulates Baltimore's team dynamic.

"Guys are going to step up each and every night, and that's what makes it a great team to play for. You know somebody is going to pick you up if it's not your night," Snider said.

Parmelee, unlike Snider, doesn't need to think back very far to remember the last time he hit a home run. He hit two just one day ago in his first day back in the Majors from Triple-A. Since his return Tuesday, Parmelee is 5-for-9 with three homers and three RBIs, amassing 14 total bases in his 10 plate appearances.

Video: BAL@PHI: Parmelee opens scoring with solo home run

As many heads as Parmelee has turned over the past few days, he said that he hasn't surprised himself with his play, mostly because of the way he prepares for games.

"I'm enjoying the high right now, but you've got to keep it as level as possible," Parmelee said. "I know I'm capable of it, but you've just got to keep it going as long as you can. You don't always feel good every single day you come to the park. So I just try to keep it as consistent as possible."

It may seem precarious for Showalter to juggle the hot bats of Parmelee and Snider, as well as Lough, who filled in again for regular center fielder Adam Jones on Wednesday with a not-too-shabby 1-for-4 day with two RBIs. But the importance of this offensive outburst hasn't been lost on the manager, who said he believes this team is starting to resemble last year's postseason club.

"It's kind of us, slowly by slowly us, trying to get back to what we try to be," Showalter said.