masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSo, what did it mean for the Orioles to bounce back last night with a 9-1 victory over the Rays?

Delmon Young has the floor.

“It’s good,” he said, “because it seemed like y’all went in panic mode when we got swept in Chicago.”

I had no idea that Young read this blog. But seriously …

“We weren’t scoring many runs, but it happens and then we’re back in our division at home facing a guy we’ve seen before, a team we play,” he said. “We know their tendencies and everything. And…So, what did it mean for the Orioles to bounce back last night with a 9-1 victory over the Rays?

Delmon Young has the floor.

“It’s good,” he said, “because it seemed like y’all went in panic mode when we got swept in Chicago.”

I had no idea that Young read this blog. But seriously …

“We weren’t scoring many runs, but it happens and then we’re back in our division at home facing a guy we’ve seen before, a team we play,” he said. “We know their tendencies and everything. And we’ve got better facilities here than Wrigley.

“We want to extend the lead and then try to close in on the best record, so we’ve got a couple things that we’re trying to get done here.”

Young is 9-for-25 (.360) during a six-game hitting streak. He was removed for a pinch-runner last night after coming within a triple of the cycle.

“I wouldn’t try to hit a cycle,” he said. “I’d try to hit another home run.”

flaherty-swinging-white-sidebar.jpgIf anyone is worried about Ryan Flaherty, he’s in the Orioles clubhouse every day and walks around with a smile on his face. Not constantly, though. Otherwise, people might think that he’s creepy. But he’s fine.

Flaherty takes early batting practice and works out before games. He performs a series of conditioning drills in the outfield with strength and conditioning coach Joe Hogarty, working up a sweat while some teammates play cards, watch television or grab a bite to eat.

(They can do all three at the same time. I’ve seen it done.)

Flaherty must stay ready in case his name actually appears in the lineup, which hasn’t occurred since Aug. 16 in Cleveland. He’s got three plate appearances since that date, including his pinch-hitting appearance last night in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Orioles are working with a short bench and Flaherty is the only true utility infielder. He’s needed to back up every infield position while Jonathan Schoop starts every game at second base and Chris Davis replaces Manny Machado at third.

Manager Buck Showalter likes to keep his players engaged and tries to avoid sitting them for extended periods, so Flaherty could sneak back into the lineup one of these nights. It’s more likely to happen once rosters expand.

Flaherty is 1-for-4 lifetime against right-hander Alex Cobb, who starts tonight for the Rays.

Cobb already has faced the Orioles twice this season, allowing one unearned run over seven innings on June 18 and four runs (three earned) in five innings on June 29. He’s 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA in six career starts against the Orioles, with 39 strikeouts in 38 innings. He’s 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA in three starts at Camden Yards.

Left-handers are batting .207 against Cobb this season. Right-handers are hitting .254.

Nick Markakis is 4-for-13 (.308) against Cobb and J.J. Hardy is 5-for-15 (.333).

Davis and Nelson Cruz are each 2-for-12 (.167) vs. Cobb and Adam Jones is 4-for-19 (.211).

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is making his 25th start of the season and 13th at Camden Yards, where he’s gone 6-2 with a 3.65 ERA. The Orioles are 8-4 in his home starts.

Chen has posted a quality start in four of his last five outings while also working at least seven innings. He’s 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA this month after going 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA in June and 4-0 with a 2.92 ERA in July.

Chen is 3-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rays, including a 2-2 record and 3.82 ERA in five home starts. He’s 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season, allowing nine earned runs in 16 1/3 innings.

Ben Zobrist is 11-for-30 (.367) with a home run against Chen. Desmond Jennings is 5-for-25 (.200) with two doubles and a home run, Sean Rodriguez is 3-for-19 (.158) with a double and home run, and Yunel Escobar is 2-for-15 (.133) with a double and home run.

The Orioles will face left-hander Drew Smyly on Wednesday. They talked to the Tigers about him at the non-waiver trade deadline, but couldn’t get him.

The Tigers sent Smyly to the Rays and Austin Jackson to the Mariners, the Rays sent David Price to the Tigers and the Mariners sent Nick Franklin to the Rays. Or something along those lines.

Anyway, the Orioles wanted Smyly.

“It will be interesting to see who pitches better the next five years, him or Price,” Showalter said. “Smyly is really good. He’s a good pickup by them.”

Darren O’Day lowered his ERA to 0.94 last night. Is that good?

O’Day has allowed one run since June 16. We’re talking one run in his last 25 appearances.

Crazy, right?

Going back a few days, if you saw Showalter talking to the umpires shortly before Sunday’s game at Wrigley Field, he was letting them know that the Orioles’ replay system was down. They only had one feed.

Not the first time it’s happened this season.

The Orioles have 29 outfield assists, including six by Jones. Markakis leads the team with 10.

The Orioles are 16-5 at home since June 30, posting a 2.66 ERA in the process. They’re outscoring their opponents 105-62 in their last 21 games at Camden Yards.

The all-time series between the Orioles and Rays is tied 145-145. I think Aubrey Huff should throw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight. Somebody get him on the phone.

Better yet, have Jorge Julio throw it and Huff hit it over the fence.