BALTIMORE _ As for wishes being granted, this was a pretty good one.
Manager Kevin Cash was sitting in the Camden Yards visitors' dugout two hours before Friday's game detailing things he'd like to see his Rays do more, better and differently as they resumed play following the All-Star break.
He stressed hitting with runners in scoring position. Suggested they need more reliable relief work from Diego Castillo. Mentioned tightening up their base running.
Then, in summation, he threw this out:
"Overall, let's get the bats going and get off to a hot start here in the second half."
From his lips to their swings.
The Rays came out in like they'd been bored, or bottled up, for the four-day break, scoring seven times in the first inning and rolling to a 16-4 win over the Orioles that wasn't that close.
Among the highlights:
_ The 16 runs matched the third most in franchise history, and their most since a team-record tying 19 on July 14, 2018. The previous high this season was 14 in a May 30 win over the Twins.
_ The 20 hits matched their fourth most in a game, also most since that July 2018 game at Minnesota. The previous high this season was 16 that May 30 game.
_ The seven runs were the most they'd ever scored in the first inning of a road game, and third most in any of the 3,492 games in their 22 seasons of franchise history.
_ All Rays in the lineup got a hit in the 11-batter first inning but Avisail Garcia, who then got one his next at-bat.
_ Rookie Nate Lowe had four hits, and was three-fourths the way to a cycle, doubling the first, hitting a two-run homer in the second and singling in the fourth and seventh.
With the Rays opening the four-games-in-45-hours weekend sporting a 52-39 record and holding the first AL wild-card, Cash made clear they had done a lot well to get to this point.
"We're in a good spot," he said. "Credit the guys for having a successful first half. I know the last couple series leading into the break were not the prettiest, but you'd think 11 other teams would trade records with us right now. So we've got to appreciate that."
But ...
"We always talk about (how) good teams find ways to get better. We've got to get better. There's certain things we can do better as a group to help us win some more games."
Friday wasn't all about the hitting, as Yonny Chirinos gave the Rays a solid seven innings on the mound in improving his record to 8-4 and lowering his ERA to 3.11. Chirinos allowed two runs on four hits while striking out eight. While he had pitched well since joining the rotation in late May, and Cash praised him for routinely giving the team a chance to win, he hadn't earned a W since June 7.
Rookie reliever Ian Gibaut also got to make his major league debut, working the final two innings.
Here is how the first inning went against Orioles starter Dylan Bundy:
Austin Meadows grounded out.
Tommy Pham homered, his 14th.
Kevin Kieramier doubled.
Yandy Diaz singled in Kiermaier.
Nate Lowe doubled, sending Diaz to third.
Garcia struck out.
Diaz scored on a wild pitch.
Joey Wendle singled in Lowe, then stole second.
Travis d'Arnaud singled in Wendle.
Willy Adames doubled in d'Arnaud.
Meadows doubled in Adames, then moved to third on a balk.
Pham lined out.
The teams play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, with the 1:05 game the makeup of a May 5 rain out.
