Orioles Sweep Detroit; Advance To ALCS
Nelson Cruz’s two run homer carries the Orioles to the ALCS – Rick Osentoski USA Today
The Baltimore Orioles swept the Detroit Tigers, and, in doing so, advanced to the American League Championship Series for the fist time since 1997.
1997 was the last time the Orioles won a playoff series as well.
It was also manager Buck Showalter’s first playoff series win in four tries. He previously lost in the ALDS in 1995 (Yankees), 1999 (Diamondbacks) and 2012 (Orioles).
After watching the Detroit Tigers bullpen comically implode in games one and two of the series in Baltimore, David Price pitched a strong eight innings. The former Cy-Young winner only allowed five hits throwing 112 pitches, 73 of which were strikes.
Price’s biggest mistake came in the sixth inning when Nelson Cruz got ahold of a one of his pitches and barely sent it over the right field fence. Cruz, and most of the baseball world, thought it was going to slice foul but narrowly stayed fair.
The two run home run from Nelson Cruz was his 16th career postseason homer, which is good for ninth most all time. Eight of his 16 homers have come against the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers fan who caught the ball didn’t throw the ball back, but pushed it off the wall and back onto the field.
The 9th inning was as nerve racking as they come. Victor Martinez doubled to lead off the inning. J.D. Martinez followed up his last name twin (not actually related) with another double which put the Orioles lead at just one.
Zach Brittion struck out Bryan Holaday to get the Orioles within a double play of sweeping the Tigers.
Getting a double play was exactly what Buck Martinez was thinking and he took a chance by walking the potential winning run, Nick Castellanos. The gamble paid off and Andrew Romine grounded into a double play to complete the Orioles sweep of the Tigers.
Starter Bud Norris, who didn’t know he was starting tonights ALDS Game 3 in Detroit until Showalter notified him of the rotation change on the flight to Detroit, pitched a nearly flawless six and one third innings giving up just two hits and no earned runs.
Baltimore will either play the Kansas City Royals or the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels currently trail the Royals 2-0 in the other ALDS series. If the Royals advance tonight, the Orioles will secure home field advantage of the ALCS and will play games one and two at Camden Yards on Friday and Saturday. If the Angels make a comeback, the ALCS will start in Anaheim.
UPDATE:
The Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 last night and won their ALDS series 3-0. The Orioles will face the Royals starting Friday night in Baltimore. The following is the ALCS schedule:
Friday, October 10th: Royals at Baltimore – 8:07 pm
Saturday, October 11th: Royals at Baltimore – 4:07 pm
Monday, October 13th: Baltimore at Royals
Tuesday, October 14th: Baltimore at Royals
x- Wednesday, October 15th: Baltimore at Royals
x-Friday, October 17th: Royals at Baltimore
x-Saturday, October 18th: Royals at Baltimore
x- If necessary
Here is the Royals vs Orioles ALCS promo video released by the MLB Public Relations Department
