Eliminated from the playoffs a full month ago, the Orioles’ season-ending meetings with the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays guarantee them a hand in the playoff fates of five American League clubs and brings the watchful gaze of a baseball world that has grown accustomed to expecting the worst from them.
They responded, at least Tuesday, with a performance worthy of the circumstances in a tidy 4-2 win over Boston before 8,098 fans at Camden Yards, thanks to an encouraging return from rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann (Loyola Blakefield) and some timely late hitting.
The Orioles (51-106) were down two runs without much prospect of a turnaround against imposing left-handed ace Chris Sale when their offensive breakthrough came from an unlikely source.