ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter always says he can't wait to find out what the boys have in store for him. Tonight, they won the wild card game and finally got to celebrate. No wonder he couldn't wait. Joe Saunders held the Rangers to one run over 5 2/3 innings, and the bullpen worked its usual magic in a 5-1 victory over the Rangers. Darren O'Day retired six of the seven batters he faced, permitting only an infield hit to Ian Kinsler in the eighth with the Orioles...

The veteran pitcher, who in the minds of some, was a very controversial choice to pitch tonight, got the job done for the Orioles. Joe Saunders, ignoring his poor career stats vs. Texas, held the Rangers to just one run in a very gutty effort as the Orioles beat Texas 5-1 in the AL wild card game. With this win, in their first playoff game since 1997, the Orioles now advance to meet the Yankees in the American League Division Series. The O's host Game 1 Sunday night at 6:15 p.m. at Camden...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Manager Buck Showalter is being rewarded for his faith in Joe Saunders. Saunders had held the Rangers to one run in five innings, and the Orioles have taken a 2-1 lead in the sixth on Adam Jones' sacrifice fly. J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis opened with singles, and Jones lifted a fly ball to right field to break the scoreless tie. Yu Darvish, who had retired 15 of 17 batters heading into the sixth, needed the attention of the Rangers' head athletic trainer and manager Ron...

The Nationals are going to St. Louis. We think. In the first game of the new wild card era, the Cardinals beat the Braves 6-3, and will move on to the National League Division Series. They'll host the Nats for Games 1 and 2, which will be held Sunday at 3:07 p.m. and Monday at 4:37 p.m., respectively. The topic that everyone will be discussing tomorrow, however, was the incredibly bizarre play in the bottom of the eighth inning when Aldrelton Simmons' fly ball to shallow left was ruled an...

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles' starters were just introduced, joining the reserves to form a long line from home plate to third base. Ryan Flaherty was the next-to-last player to run out of the dugout. He's also the first Rule 5 player to start a postseason game after being drafted the previous winter since the Dodgers' Chad Fonville in 1995, according to STATS Inc. Fonville was selected by the Expos from the Giants' organization in the 1994 Rule 5 draft, designated for assignment on...

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Rangers have left the field and it's the Orioles' turn to take batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter met with the media this afternoon, sitting in a chair low enough to put him eye-level with the microphone. "I know we're underdogs, but..." he said. "Maybe I'll stand today." Showalter wanted to know the name of Secretariat's jockey (that would be Ronnie Turcotte). Yes, he's relaxed. In one of those classic Showalter moments, he immediately pointed out...

Tonight's live blog: We'll be keeping this blog going throughout tonight's game and are looking for your input. Hope you post a lot of comments and/or questions here all night starting now. Let's start with this question: How are your nerves holding up tonight, O's fans? What are your feelings about tonight's game and what do the Orioles need to do to win it? Again, feel free to post your impressions of the game with comments and questions through the night. I'll add some of my own as...

ARLINGTON, Texas - It took 15 years for the Orioles to get back into the postseason, and they're facing a team that's beaten them 10 of their last 12 games and outscored them, 102-36. But nothing seems to faze them, so what's another challenge? Besides, maybe the tide is due to turn. The Orioles hit .120 (11-for-92) in the Tampa Bay series. That probably won't be good enough tonight. However, they posted a 2.16 ERA and the starters only gave up four earned runs in 18 innings. Cal Ripken...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Manager Buck Showalter is breaking out the same lineup tonight for the fifth consecutive game. It makes no difference that the Orioles are preparing for their first playoff game since 1997. Once again, Chris Davis is in right field and batting third. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base and batting eighth, with Manny Machado hitting ninth. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jim Thome DH Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan...

ARLINGTON, Texas - No real surprises on the Orioles' wild card roster except perhaps second baseman Omar Quintanilla, who was a bubble guy. Starters Miguel Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen and Chris Tillman were omitted because they wouldn't have been available tonight. Keep in mind that manager Buck Showalter can make more changes to the roster if the Orioles advance to the Division Series. INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS/DH (12) Robert Andino INF Endy Chavez OF Chris Davis RF Ryan Flaherty INF Lew Ford...