There were a few positives in the Orioles’ series with the Yankees. Everyone remembers Nate McLouth, but the re-emergence of Pedro Strop was uplifting.

Strop, who had been a terrific set-up man until mid-August, came apart. His ERA more than doubled from 1.20 to 2.44, and allowed 11 of his 18 runs.

Manager Buck Showalter began using Darren O’Day as his go-to guy before Jim Johnson instead of Strop.

In the five-game series, Strop threw twice, allowing just one hit in 2 1/3 innings and winning Game 4 with two scoreless innings in the 11th and 12th.

Strop seemed to tire, but in the first four-plus months of the season he was unhittable.

He may have saved his place on the Orioles or simply increased his trade value for a team seeking a closer.