ARLINGTON — The atmosphere in the visitors‘ clubhouse at Globe Life Field was somber as Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, and Adley Rutschman sat together. Their expressions, devoid of emotion, spoke volumes, reflecting the disappointment of the moment.
The Orioles, who were previously unsweepable, had finally been swept, bringing an end to a remarkable season in Baltimore.
„It’s hard to believe it’s over right now,“ Rutschman said.
Baltimore’s return to the postseason marked a disappointing conclusion to a special season for a rising club that holds one of the brightest futures in MLB. With a 7-1 loss to Texas in the American League Division Series, the Orioles were swept in three games.
Making their postseason appearance for the first time since 2016 and playing in a multi-game playoff series for the first time since 2014, the Orioles fell in Games 1 and 2 at Camden Yards before quietly exiting in Game 3. The ALDS sweep saw them outscored 21-11, culminating in a loss where Texas hit three home runs and blew the game open with a five-run second inning.
This marked the first time Baltimore had been swept since losing three straight games in Detroit from May 13-15, 2022, shortly before Rutschman’s call-up. The Orioles‘ streak of 91 consecutive multi-game regular-season series without a sweep is the third longest in AL/NL history.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, of the 16 previous teams in AL/NL history that reached the postseason without being swept in a multi-game series during the regular season (excluding 2020), only one was later swept in the playoffs — the 1998 Padres, managed by current Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy.
„It’s tough. It’s almost ironic,“ Mullins commented. „We went the entire season without suffering a sweep, and then we get swept in the postseason. It’s a learning experience for all of us, especially for such a young team.“
The Orioles, who won 101 regular-season games on their way to an AL East title, have a young core that had never experienced playoff baseball. Among the 26 players on their ALDS roster, only six had prior postseason experience.
The past four days will serve as a valuable learning experience for the ascending Orioles. They built on their impressive 83-win season in 2022, following five consecutive losing seasons, including three with 108 or more losses. The Orioles have solidified their position among the AL’s top teams, a status they could maintain for years to come.
„It was an incredible journey we had this year,“ Hays said. „After several years of losing, we were just living in the moment throughout the season, realizing we were turning a corner, and what we achieved was truly special.“
The Orioles‘ goals for 2023 expanded as the season progressed. They exceeded preseason projections, which anticipated a regression. Baseball Prospectus‘ PECOTA system projected 74 wins for the O’s, a mark they reached by August 14.
Baltimore secured a postseason berth on September 17, then clinched the AL East crown by a two-game margin over Tampa Bay on September 28, topping a highly competitive division.
The Orioles (101-61) were one of only three MLB teams to reach 100 or more wins, alongside the Braves (104-58) and the Dodgers (100-62). It was the first time the O’s won 100 games since 1980 (100-62), and 101 games since 1979 (102-57). This regular season ranked as the fifth best in team history (since 1954).
„We are extremely proud of our team. They defied all odds,“ manager Brandon Hyde remarked. „No one believed in us, but these guys gave it their all for six months.“
The Orioles know they can look back at the year with pride for their achievements. However, the ending is still hard to digest in the moment.
„This is painful, and it’s okay to feel the pain,“ Hyde acknowledged. „It’s okay for this to fuel us during the offseason. It will take some time for us to get past this.“
Tuesday’s game concluded with Texas right-hander José Leclerc firing a 98.4 mph fastball past Jordan Westburg, who swung through the pitch for a strikeout. Leclerc was soon joined by his Rangers teammates in a jubilant celebration on the field.
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