Orioles return to playoffs with win over Yankees, loss by Twins

NEW YORK—It wasn’t easy, but the Orioles finally clinched their second straight postseason appearance. The Orioles’ 5-3 win over the New York Yankees combined with the Miami Marlins’ 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins clinched a wild-card berth for the Orioles.

The Orioles had to wait for Miami to finish its win over Minnesota before celebrating. They also delayed the Yankees’ celebration by at least a day of winning the American League East. It has been 27 year since the Orioles reached the playoffs in consecutive years.

The Orioles hit three home runs, played solid defense and got strong pitching, starting with Dean Kremer, in their tense 5-3 win over the Yankees. Their all-around game included contributions from three players who just returned from the injured list — Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and Ryan Mountcastle — and a 432-foot home run by Colton Cowser.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” manager Brandon Hyde said amid the celebration in the locker room. “You can’t underestimate how difficult it is to get to the playoffs.”

Hyde was asked if those were tears or champagne in his eyes. “A little bit of both,” he said.

The Orioles (87-70) scored their first run in the second when Westburg singled and moved to third on Ryan O’Hearn’s ground-rule double. He scored on Heston Kjerstad’s grounder to second.

Clarke Schmidt walked Anthony Santander to start the fourth. Santander advanced to second on Schmidt’s wild pitch and scored on O’Hearn’s single to left.

Aaron Judge led off the fourth with his 56^th home run against Kremer.

Kremer made an excellent play on Austin Wells’ grounder to the third base side of the mound. He fielded it on his knees and threw to first in time for the out.

In the bottom of the fifth Kremer walked Anthony Rizzo and Anthony Volper to start the inning. Alex Verdugo hit into a double play and Gleyber Torres flied to left.

Santander’s 44^th home run with one out in the sixth, ending Schmidt’s night, gave the Orioles a 3-1 lead. Santander is alone in seventh place among single-season Orioles home run hitters, breaking a tie with Rafael Palmeiro, who had 43.

Schmidt (5-5) gave up three runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Mountcastle, who was activated from the injured list before the game, singled in the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter for O’Hearn.

Kremer (8-10)  allowed a run on three hits in five innings, walking two and striking out three. Hyde praised Kremer’s performance, saying he doesn’t know fear.

Keegan Akin walked Aaron Judge but retired two batters in the sixth. Jacob Webb struck out Giancarlo Stanton to end the inning.

Urías led off the seventh with his 11^th home run against Mark Leiter Jr. to give the Orioles a 4-1 lead.

Cionel Pérez allowed a one-out ground-rule double to Rizzo in the seventh, and after Volpe popped to third, Alex Verdugo reached on a dribbler to second.

Yennier Cano allowed a ground-rule double to Gleyber Torres, which scored Rizzo. Juan Soto’s single to right scored Verdugo, and Torres was out on a rundown between third and home to end the seventh with the Orioles leading 4-3.

Cowser led off the eighth with his 23^rd home run against Ian Hamilton to give the Orioles a 5-3 lead.

Judge flied out against Cano to lead off the eighth, and Gregory Soto retired Austin Wells and struck out Stanton. Jazz Chisholm grounded to second to start the ninth.

After Rizzo walked, Seranthony Domínguez relieved Soto and pinch-hitter Jasson Domínguez grounded to second, and Verdugo flied to left for the third out. Domínguez retired Verdugo on a fly to left for his 11^th save.