But after four games against the Red Sox this week at Camden Yards, it’s obvious that the Orioles and the AL East leaders are on different playing fields.
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Andrew Benintendi lined a tiebreaking single in the fifth, Hanley Ramirez added a solo homer, and David Price threw seven solid innings as the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.
The Yankees (79-73) went into the game 2-1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second American League wild card.
Price (17-8) gave up three runs and six hits in seven inning, walking two and striking out five. Koji Uehara then came out to pitch a scoreless 8th inning before handing it over to closer Craig Kimbrel.
Wearing a huge grin, Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones handed Ortiz the shattered phone, which was mounted on a wooden frame.
At the end of the ceremony, the Orioles gave Ortiz an oversized $10,000 check to be used as a donation in his name to the World Pediatric Project, which benefits ill children in Ortiz’s native Dominican Republic. He took the check to the dugout but left the phone on the field. Teams across baseball have showered Ortiz with gifts all season, and Major League Baseball did its part Friday with a nice highlight video celebrating the slugger’s career.
The loss coupled with the Detroit Tigers’ doubleheader sweep Thursday dropped the Orioles a half-game out of the second wild card.
Carlos Santana’s three-run home run in the sixth inning broke a tie and lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Atlanta’s Matt Kemp hit two home runs to power the Braves over Miami 6-3.
Red Sox starters averaged 7 1/3 innings over the four-game series, while the Orioles rotation averaged less than 4 2/3 frames. Francisco Rodriguez got three outs for his 44th save in 48 chances.
A day after Yoenis Cespedes just missed a walk-off home run, his team-mate Asdrubal Cabrera hit a no-doubter in the bottom of the 11th as the Mets moved a half-game in front of the idle St Louis Cardinals in the National League (NL) wildcard race. He has a 2.93 ERA in his last 12 starts, dating to July 28, and he has a 3.25 ERA in more than 175 innings pitched since May 12.
Jason Kipnis homered for the Indians, who can wrap up a postseason berth this weekend against the Chicago White Sox.
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Scooter Gennett and Chris Carter homered while Chase Anderson struck out six as the Milwaukee Brewers avoided a sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
