When the Tampa Bay Rays came to Camden Yards this past weekend, there were some things all of Birdland knew we’d see. We knew that this would be the hardest fought series of the season—and it was. We knew that this series would be the closest thing to a playoff atmosphere we’ve seen since 2014—and it absolutely was. We knew that, for better or worse, this series could define the Orioles’ playoff destiny—and after fighting back to earn a 2-2 split, the Orioles still squarely control their own destiny.
However, what we didn’t know is how the Baby Birds would show up in the biggest, most pressure-packed moment they’ve experienced as professionals.