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Orioles closer Zach Britton rises only after he embraced the sinker

Opposing hitters know it's coming. But when Orioles closer Zach Britton whips his left arm forward — unleashing mid 90s heat toward the plate before it drops off the table — there's not much a batter can do with it.

One pitch — Britton's power sinker — has allowed the 28-year-old to go from struggling starter to one of the best closers in the game. Two seasons ago, he began the year as a long reliever, partially because the team needed to find a way to keep him because he was out of minor-league options.