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Elena Benassi trembled with excitement as she cradled the baseball, just signed by her favorite Oriole, Manny Machado.

The 16-year-old Towson resident stood with her mother, Pilar, among a sizable cluster of orange-clad faithful at Tropicana Field, two hours before the Orioles opened their 2015 season with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was the fifth straight season-opening win for the Orioles.

The scene inside the Rays’ drab dome lacked the excitement of Opening Day at Camden Yards. But not for Benassi, who obtained the coveted autograph that had long eluded her. She’s pretty jazzed about the 2015 Orioles as well, despite the free-agent losses the club sustained in the wake of winning the American League East and reaching the league championship series.

“They tortured us for a long time, and it’s so good to see them on the way up,” she said.

“I think we’re on the winning side now, for a long time to come,” her mother said.

Mother and daughter are undaunted by the modest expectations many hold for a team that won 96 games in 2014.

The Orioles lost outfielder Nelson Cruz and overpowering reliever Andrew Miller, key contributors last season. And in a more painful blow to many fans, the Orioles bid farewell to Nick Markakis, the longest-standing member of a core group who brought winning baseball back to Baltimore.

On Monday, the Orioles also took the field without catcher Matt Wieters, ecovering from elbow surgery; shortstop J. J. Hardy, coping with a shoulder injury; and first baseman Chris Davis, who was serving the last game of his suspension for Adderall use.

It didn’t matter as Markakis fill-in Travis Snider had three hits and two great defensive plays; Cruz replacement Alejandro De Aza hit a two-run home run; and Steve Pearce and Ryan Flaherty, starting for Davis and Hardy, hit long home runs. They all supported starting pitcher Chris Tillman, who gave up just one run while pitching into the seventh inning.

Machado also appeared healthy at third base after a knee injury cut short his 2014 season. He acknowledged this Opening Day held deeper meaning for him, simply because he feels confident in his body.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for six months,” the 22-year-old former Gold Glove winner said. “My body feels great. I feel 100 percent. My body’s never felt like this. My legs are under me, and I’ve been able to do things I haven’t done in years. So I’m excited.”

Machado didn’t mind opening at Tampa Bay rather than in the more festive setting at Camden Yards. “Opening Day is Opening Day brother,” he said.

Manager Buck Showalter said opening in Tampa was ideal because it was a short hop from the club’s spring training complex in Sarasota.

“I think every chance you get to wait with weather — teams in our area — you should,” he said. “This is good for us. We get one trip out of the way to an American League East place, and we take the bus an hour up the street. … If I had to pick a place to open, logistically, this would probably be the first choice.”

Showalter dismissed outside expectations for his club — whether too low or too high.

“It’s debatable where people are picking us,” he said. “I’m not going to get into that. But we did win last year. You don’t sneak up on anybody here. Everybody knows your strengths and weaknesses.”

James Esch grew up in Rockville rooting for the Orioles but moved to the St. Petersburg area 16 years ago. He was thrilled to watch his team open the season a short ride from his house.

He was less thrilled with the club’s offseason.

“We got a good core. It’s just a matter of building on it,” he said. “They didn’t get any flashy players, and I’m fine with that, as long as the guys we got contribute.”

Other fans who made the trip to Tropicana Field said it’s too early to let doubts cloud the fun of a new season.

“It will all work out,” said Linda Mileto of Baltimore, who was waiting for autographs along the third-base line with her 10-year-old son, Leo. It was his first Opening Day home or away, and his face brightened when Pearce stopped by to sign.

Nearby stood Pearce’s high school coach, Ron Nipper, who’d made the hour drive from Lakeland, Fla., to greet his former star. Nipper’s allegiance follows Pearce, so he wore a bright orange Orioles jersey.

“He spent such a long time just hoping he’d get a shot,” Nipper said of the club’s surprise star from 2014. “He’s such a good guy, and everybody back here supports him.”

Nipper expects big things from the Orioles. “They did all that last year, and they mere missing some key components,” he said, alluding to the injuries suffered by Wieters and Machado and Davis’ suspension.

Elena Benassi shared her own theory of how the Orioles will fill the void left by Cruz and Markakis. She said she believes Delmon Young will build on his playoff heroics and take on a greater offensive role.

“Of course, it would also be nice if Chris Davis got back to hitting 53 home runs,” said the Notre Dame Prep sophomore.

Pilar and Elena Benassi are hardcore enough that they plan to cut their vacation in Florida short so they can be back in time for Friday’s home opener at Camden Yards.