Saarloos and Swisher stepped into their new roles with full gusto last night, each doing his part to rout the Orioles 9-0. Saarloos tossed six one-hit innings, using only 80 pitches. With that kind of efficiency, we'll be seeing him going eight or nine innings soon. Saarloos was pitching due to a series of mishaps:

When Rich Harden couldn't pitch the second game of the season because of a blister on his right middle finger, No. 5 starter Kirk Saarloos stepped right in and pitched as if he was in the front end of the rotation.

And:

The downside for the A's was the way in which a roster spot opened for Saarloos: Shortstop Bobby Crosby was placed on the disabled list with a stress fracture of the ninth and 10th ribs.

"I'm a little depressed, to be honest,'' Crosby said. "You work your butt off for six months and on Opening Day, you crack a rib.''

Crosby will be out an undetermined length of time. Athletic trainer Larry Davis compared the injury to Tim Hudson's oblique strain last year, an injury that kept Hudson out six weeks. Davis said there is no way to say if Crosby's recovery time will be similar.

Moneyball sensation Nick Swisher added two home runs to the cause. Nick is four for nine to start the season after a spring in which there was concern about his offense.