Baltimore Orioles secure a playoff spot for the second year in a row

NEW YORK (AP) — Jackson Holliday, still 2 1/2 months away from his 21st birthday and the legal drinking age, was given his own brand of champagne in the jubilant Baltimore Orioles locker room: a bottle labeled “Baby Bird Bath Water” left in a bucket with his No. 7 jersey and a sign reading “BABY'S FIRST CLINCHMAS 2024.”

“I'm having a little more fun,” the rookie said, holding the post-meal soft drink as his teammates drank from the Orioles' water station during Tuesday night's celebration at Yankee Stadium. “I was hoping I could join in on the fun.”

Baltimore is on its way to the playoffs in two consecutive years for the first time since the 1990s, securing at most a wildcard spot.

After left fielder Colton Cowser caught Alex Verdugo’s flyout with his glove and thus 5-3 win against the New York Yankees that put Baltimore on the brink of the postseason, the Orioles marched into a visitors' clubhouse draped with protective plastic curtains. Nine minutes later, as manager Brandon Hyde answered postgame questions from the media, Carlos Correa delivered a third strike that ended Minnesota's 4-1 loss to Miami and clinched another postseason berth for the Orioles.

“Last year, winning the American League East was just a huge accomplishment for us and expectations were a lot lower,” general manager Mike Elias said. “We went into this year with higher expectations. We made a lot of moves to put some chips in play this year and then we just didn't have the luck we hoped for. I think today is a sense of relief.”

After winning their first division title since 2014, the Orioles started 23-11 and were 55-31 before the July 3 game, but have since gone 32-39, hampered by a series of injuries. The Orioles were the sole division leader for 62 days, leading by as much as three games.

Baltimore's pitching staff was without Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells, who suffered elbow injuries and required surgery. Grayson Rodriguez has not pitched since July 31 due to a latissimus problem.

“Not much has gone right in the last few months,” Hyde said. “We're right in every game and things just haven't gone our way. And a lot of bad luck too.”

Dean Kremer, who allowed one run and three hits in five innings to earn the win, started last year's game against Tampa Bay that clinched the Orioles' first playoff berth since 2016. Eleven days later, he earned the win in the AL East decider that gave the Orioles 100 wins for the first time since 1980. He then lost the final game of the Division Series as Texas completed a three-game sweep to give the Rangers their first World Series title.

“This will be something like a new beginning. We don't have to work ourselves to death now,” said Kremer.

As they approach this year's postseason, the Orioles are getting healthier. All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg returned from a broken hand on Sunday, and third baseman Ramón Urías returned the same day from a sprained right ankle. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle returned to action on Tuesday after missing a month with a sprained left wrist.

Baltimore has tremendous hitting power – the Orioles’ 228 home runs are second only to the Yankees’ 230.

“We know what kind of group we have,” said All-Star right fielder Anthony Santander, whose Drive in the sixth inning from the foul post in right field gave him career highs of 44 home runs and 100 RBIs.

Baltimore was eliminated in the AL Championship Series in 1996 and 1997. The Orioles (87-70) have little chance of overtaking the Yankees (92-65) in the battle for the AL East title – they need to go 5-0 and the Yankees 0-5. But they have a four-game lead for the top wild card, which would mean they play the best-of-three wild card series at Camden Yards next week.

“I'm confident that our luck will even out in the playoffs,” said Elias, “because last year it was the other way around.”

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