masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles score four runs in three games at Wrigley Field and tally six tonight in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Baseball is, indeed, a funny game.

The Orioles remain six games ahead of the Yankees in the American League East following a 9-1 win over the Rays at Camden Yards. The losing streak ends at three games.

The Blue Jays lost to the Red Sox in 10 innings and are nine games back.

In case you missed it earlier, tonight marks the first time since moving to Baltimore that the Orioles…The Orioles score four runs in three games at Wrigley Field and tally six tonight in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Baseball is, indeed, a funny game.

The Orioles remain six games ahead of the Yankees in the American League East following a 9-1 win over the Rays at Camden Yards. The losing streak ends at three games.

The Blue Jays lost to the Red Sox in 10 innings and are nine games back.

showalter-stretch-for-high-five-sidebar.jpgIn case you missed it earlier, tonight marks the first time since moving to Baltimore that the Orioles have hit back-to-back-to-back and back-to-back homers in the same game. Before tonight, they last hit back-to-back homers twice in the same game on May 27, 2008 against the Yankees (Kevin Millar/Ramon Hernandez and Luke Scott/Kevin Millar).

“Somebody said the other day, they’re points,” said manager Buck Showalter. “Any way you can get them.”

Most of the talk centered on Adam Jones’ spectacular leaping catch in the sixth inning to rob Evan Longoria of a three-run homer, and his throw to nab Matt Joyce at second base. The Orioles appealed to make certain that Brandon Guyer didn’t tag too early while advancing to third.

“I thought we had a triple play,” Showalter said. “I had a pretty good angle on it, too. Probably couldn’t tell when Jonesy actually secured the ball. But it was a great play.

“I don’t know what was better, the catch or the throw. And good tag. Our guys take a lot of pride in tagging well, especially with replay nowadays. You better be a good tagger, because if not, it will show up.

“That’s just the way Adam plays the game. He’s such a great example-setter.”

“Typical Adam,” said Chris Tillman. “Not satisfied with the catch. He had to throw someone out. He’s in the upper echelon. He’s one of the best center fielders in the game, if not the best.”

Jones, by the way, became the eighth player in franchise history to play 500 games as an Oriole at Camden Yards. He’ll tie B.J. Surhoff for seventh place Tuesday night with 501. Rafael Palmeiro is sixth with 505.

Nick Markakis is the leader among active Orioles with 671 games. Brady Anderson holds the club record with 700.

The Orioles needed the bats to come alive after a sluggish weekend series against the Cubs that concluded a 10-day road trip.

“It’s a Monday, it’s a long trip, a lot of things going on, trying to get settled back in, facing a good pitcher in (Jake) Odorizzi,” Showalter said. “It was a challenge coming into it, but we strung a lot of good at-bats together and gave us some cushion there.

“Darren (O’Day) and Zach (Britton) both had four or five days off and we were going to pitch them regardless, so it worked out. Tilly was working on an extra days rest, just like he was last time. We had a lot of things done in the game tonight we needed to get done.”

Such as Delmon Young collecting a single, double and three-run homer.

“Somebody was telling me to ask him about driving the ball the other way and he said, ‘No, I was trying to pull it. I just kind of blocked it,’ ” Showalter said. “He’s a very honest guy. He’s a strong guy and he got extended on a breaking ball, an off-speed pitch out over the plate and got the barrel to it. But Nicky probably had as key a blow as there was tonight. Kind of get forgotten in the mix for a lot of reasons.

“Delmon had a big night for us, but it seems like Nicky and Jonesy are always in the middle of something.”

Tillman improved to 11-5 with a 3.41 ERA by holding the Rays to an unearned run and three hits in seven innings.

“One of the keys is you see him carry a crisp fastball early in the game,” Showalter said. “He’s had that for a while now, knock on wood. That’s usually an indicator. And the curveball’s of use to him. He can get it in there.”