The Baltimore Orioles are going back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.The Orioles first learned they clinched a 2023 playoff berth during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. That came with some help after the Texas Rangers fell to the Cleveland Guardians.The Guardians’ win put both the Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays into the playoffs. But it’s what the Orioles would do next that would put them in a two-game lead over the Rays for first in the AL East.But it wasn’t over in Baltimore just yetAdam Frazier hit a key double in the bottom of the ninth, tying the O’s with the Rays, 3-3, in a late comeback.In the top of the 10th, the Rays took the lead back, 4-3, with the automatic runner scoring.Down to their last out, the Orioles came back in the bottom of the 10th, scoring the automatic runner to tie the game again, 4-4, on Adley Rutschman’s single up the middle. Up next, Anthony Santander would be thrown out at first.The Rays stranded the automatic runner at third in the top of the 11th.Then, the magic manifested: Ryan O’Hearn’s sacrifice bunt advanced Rustchman, the automatic runner this inning, to third. Then, Rutschman scored on Cedric Mullins’ sacrifice fly to center. Final score 5-4.After losing the first two of this four-game set against the Rays, the Orioles took Game 3 of the series Saturday night, snapping a four-game losing streak. That win secured a season-series victory over Tampa Bay, which could be used as a tiebreaker to determine a division winner if both teams finish the season with the same record.What Birdland is sayingIt’s a season that brought the Orioles Magic back to Camden Yards.”I think it’s the best season yet that I’ve seen in a while, since I was a kid,” Orioles fan Peter Themelis said.Fans said they are feeling more connected to this team than ever.”It’s a great team, and we should keep them together. They have team spirit. It’s very important,” Themelis said.”For the first time in several years, we’re so excited to be here, and I think it’s a real time to celebrate the Orioles,” Orioles fan Jessica Muir said.Clinching that playoff spot means the O’s have a bright future ahead, but for now, fans just want to celebrate one amazing game. A rebuild that’s paying offThis is the first appearance in the postseason for the O’s since 2016, when they lost a Wild Card game against the Toronto Blue Jays.Just a few years later, the team underwent a complete rebuild under Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias. Now, after years of building the team from the ground up, a mix of young stars, like Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, along with crafty veterans, like Mullins and O’Hearn, have this team headed into the playoffs. ”I think our guys just expect to win when they come to the ballpark. A lot of our guys lost a lot in this league and now have confidence. Last year gave a lot of our guys in the clubhouse a lot of confidence. A lot of our young guys don’t know any better and just playing their butts off every night. We had (Felix) Bautista closing games that won us a lot of games. It’s just a team effort,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.NEXT: The Orioles travel to Houston to play the Astros Monday night.
The Baltimore Orioles are going back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The Orioles first learned they clinched a 2023 playoff berth during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. That came with some help after the Texas Rangers fell to the Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians’ win put both the Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays into the playoffs. But it’s what the Orioles would do next that would put them in a two-game lead over the Rays for first in the AL East.
But it wasn’t over in Baltimore just yet
Adam Frazier hit a key double in the bottom of the ninth, tying the O’s with the Rays, 3-3, in a late comeback.
In the top of the 10th, the Rays took the lead back, 4-3, with the automatic runner scoring.
Down to their last out, the Orioles came back in the bottom of the 10th, scoring the automatic runner to tie the game again, 4-4, on Adley Rutschman’s single up the middle. Up next, Anthony Santander would be thrown out at first.
The Rays stranded the automatic runner at third in the top of the 11th.
Then, the magic manifested: Ryan O’Hearn’s sacrifice bunt advanced Rustchman, the automatic runner this inning, to third. Then, Rutschman scored on Cedric Mullins’ sacrifice fly to center. Final score 5-4.
After losing the first two of this four-game set against the Rays, the Orioles took Game 3 of the series Saturday night, snapping a four-game losing streak. That win secured a season-series victory over Tampa Bay, which could be used as a tiebreaker to determine a division winner if both teams finish the season with the same record.
What Birdland is saying
It’s a season that brought the Orioles Magic back to Camden Yards.
“I think it’s the best season yet that I’ve seen in a while, since I was a kid,” Orioles fan Peter Themelis said.
Fans said they are feeling more connected to this team than ever.
“It’s a great team, and we should keep them together. They have team spirit. It’s very important,” Themelis said.
“For the first time in several years, we’re so excited to be here, and I think it’s a real time to celebrate the Orioles,” Orioles fan Jessica Muir said.
Clinching that playoff spot means the O’s have a bright future ahead, but for now, fans just want to celebrate one amazing game.
A rebuild that’s paying off
This is the first appearance in the postseason for the O’s since 2016, when they lost a Wild Card game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Just a few years later, the team underwent a complete rebuild under Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias. Now, after years of building the team from the ground up, a mix of young stars, like Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, along with crafty veterans, like Mullins and O’Hearn, have this team headed into the playoffs.
”I think our guys just expect to win when they come to the ballpark. A lot of our guys lost a lot in this league and now have confidence. Last year gave a lot of our guys in the clubhouse a lot of confidence. A lot of our young guys don’t know any better and just playing their butts off every night. We had (Felix) Bautista closing games that won us a lot of games. It’s just a team effort,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.
NEXT: The Orioles travel to Houston to play the Astros Monday night.
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