The Orioles entered Friday’s game with the Diamondbacks with the knowledge that whatever happened, they would not lose any ground to the Rays. Tampa Bay was beaten by the Guardians early on Friday. At worst, the Orioles would hold at a 1.5 game lead in the division, with the magic number at 27. The Orioles then took the field in Arizona as if they were determined to wring every last bit of consolation out of that knowledge, losing a largely lifeless game, 4-2.
For those of us who tuned in to the game at its 9:40 Eastern time beginning, there was an ever-so-brief period of time where it seemed like the Orioles might play a different sort of game.