– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
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BALTIMORE — For close to two years, many baseball observers have come to know that the Baltimore Orioles are ahead of schedule in the rebuilding process and getting back into serious championship contention. Now, for the first time in nearly a decade, the Baltimore Orioles find themselves ahead of everyone else in the American League in the standings during the thick of a Major League Baseball season. And all this comes right before Baltimore embarks on, arguably, the most important series the franchise will play in recent memory.
Buckle up, Birdland!
The come-from-behind 8-5 victory posted by the Orioles was noteworthy in a myriad of ways, none the least of which includes the fact that Orioles still remain the only team not to have been swept in a series this season. After the Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the inning, the young Orioles responded like the great team that they have quickly become with four runs, setting up the team’s league-leading 34th come-from-behind victory this season. Most importantly, the victory, along with the Tampa Bay Rays’ third consecutive loss in Arlington against the Texas Rangers has forced a virtual tie for first place in the American League East, with the Orioles percentage points ahead of Tampa as the teams square off in St. Petersburg to start a four-game set starting tomorrow night.
Baltimore is in first place in the division at any point after the All-Star Break for the first time since 2016, the last year the Orioles made the postseason.
Number of games left in the Orioles’ 2023 regular season: 67. The number of dreams Orioles supporters are weaving that end with one of the best finishes to a season in generations in Baltimore: endless.
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Wednesday afternoon’s contest, with all photos taken by DC-area photographer Clifford Ray Williams. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 24 pictures in total.
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