What a way to end the season...the Birds sunk the Red Sox 4-3 on Wednesday night, nearly eliminating Boston from the playoffs. Just one minute later, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees in extra innings to take the Wild Card and send the Sox home crying.
It was simply amazing...I've honestly never seen a better ending to the regular season in my lifetime. You couldn't have scripted the fight for October any better.
Boston went up 1-0 in the top of the third, but J.J. Hardy gave the Birds a 2-1 lead with his 30th homer of the season in the bottom of the frame. The Sox tied it in the fourth, scoring on a balk called on Alfredo Simon, and went ahead in the fifth on a Dustin Pedroia solo shot.
Boston led 3-2 before the game was delayed for nearly an hour and a half due to thunderstorms. Both clubs were then able to watch as Tampa Bay clawed their way back from a 7-0 deficit, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. It was do-or-die for the Red Sox...
Play resumed, and the score stayed the same before the O's broke through against Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth...after Papelbon struck out Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds, Chris Davis doubled to give the Birds life. Nolan Reimold followed with a game-tying double, and Robert Andino won the game with an RBI single to left field. Orioles Magic.
The crowd in St. Petersburg went wild when they saw the news, and a minute later Evan Longoria's blast barely cleared the left-field wall to give the Rays an 8-7 walk-off win over the Yankees. The playoff scene was set...
The Orioles celebrated on the field like they were going to the playoffs...hopefully, after this amazing September, they will know that feeling soon.
It's been a blast covering my team all season, but it's all over now. I will return this weekend for a final post, the Orioles' Season-In-Review. Stay tuned. Go O's!
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