The Yankees rallied to win. The Angels rallied with two outs in the ninth and won. It spoiled what would have been a pretty special on-field celebration for the Orioles and their fans today. "There was a chance there," Jim Johnson said. "Now is the time we are paying more attention to the scoreboard. We were going to be doing the same things that the fans were doing, so we might as well stay out with them. We know this means a lot to the city and we wanted to celebrate with them. But we'll...

Joe Saunders was handed the ball today with the possibility that the Orioles could clinch their first playoff berth since 1997. He did his part. Saunders picked up his third win, allowing three runs in 7 1/3 innings and receiving a huge ovation as he walked off the field. "It was awesome," he said. "I'm very humbled to get the opportunity to do this, and to be able to come out and get a victory for the ballclub was pretty special. "You always want to set the tone early, especially...

Jim Johnson recorded his 50th save, and the Orioles completed their sweep of the Red Sox with a 6-3 win at Camden Yards. Johnson is the 10th pitcher to record 50 saves in a single season since it became an official stat in 1969. The Orioles are 73-0 when leading after the seventh and 74-1 after the eighth. Johnson retired the side in order with a fly ball and two ground outs. The Orioles filed out of the dugout as usual. No wild celebration, since the Angels game isn't a final. The Rangers...

The Orioles have reduced their magic number to clinch their first playoff berth since 1997 to one after today's 6-3 win over Boston in front of 41,257 at Camden Yards. The Orioles would have officially clinched a playoff berth if Los Angeles had lost to Texas, but the Angels rallied in the ninth for a 5-4 win. They play the night portion of that day-night doubleheader at 7:05 and the O's will earn a playoff spot with an Angels loss. The Orioles began the day tied with the Yankees for the AL...

ST. LOUIS - Given a chance to clinch the division title in his hometown, Ross Detwiler did not bring his A-game to the table. Detwiler has allowed five runs through two innings, walked four hitters and served up a two-run homer to Carlos Beltran. The Nationals trail the Cardinals 5-0 after two. Detwiler pitched a scoreless first inning, but fell apart in the second. He walked the first two hitters he faced, then got an awful break when Danny Espinosa booted a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play...

A couple of mid-game notes as the Orioles hold a 5-1 lead after three and a half innings against Boston, on a day they hope they can clinch their first playoff berth since 1997. * Jim Thome is 2-for-2 today with a pair of RBI singles. That gives the veteran eight hits over his last 15 at-bats with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs. Yes, he's been a nice pickup. * From Sept. 17-25, Manny Machado had just one extra-base hit, a double, over a nine-game stretch. Now he is 6-for-11 over his last...

ST. LOUIS - Ross Detwiler was pretty down on himself after his last start, calling his performance in the Nationals' series-opening loss at Philadelphia "embarrassing." Detwiler allowed five runs over five innings Tuesday against the Phillies, an outing which you could tell stayed with him in the days afterward. Today, Detwiler has a chance to atone for that outing by helping the Nationals clinch the NL East, and he has a chance to do it in his hometown in front of dozens of family members...

The Orioles are expecting a sellout or close to it for this afternoon's regular-season home finale. Will fans get to watch them celebrate on the field after clinching a playoff berth? It could happen if the Angels lose Game 1 of their doubleheader and the Orioles defeat the Red Sox. But how enthusiastically would the Orioles celebrate? How would they react? "Honestly and sincerely," said manager Buck Showalter. "That's how they'll act, if it happens. And it's not something where I'm...

Chris Davis has put together a three-game run where he has hit four homers. He is 5-for-11 with nine RBIs during that stretch. OK, he is not Mark Reynolds' homer hot, but he hit No. 30 last night. "Just like him (Reynolds) earlier this year, you get hot," Davis said. "When a power hitter gets hot, they have a tendency to go deep. I've felt good at the plate the last few weeks and feel like I've really capitalized on pitches maybe I was missing earlier this year. When I simplify it and go...

After winning his second straight Most Valuable Oriole award, Adam Jones spent a good portion of an interview on that topic discussing the other players on the team that could have earned that honor. "I think there are some other deserving guys," he said. "I've lobbied for Jim Johnson and our entire bullpen. But, at the end of the day, I appreciate it. But I couldn't do this without my teammates. They are the reason why we are where we're at. It's getting named to me, but it's a team....