Orioles' Wednesday power surge results in new franchise record

The Baltimore Orioles aren’t going to be participating in the MLB playoffs this year, but they are proving to have a major impact on how things are going to shake out.

They have been playing the spoiler role in recent weeks to perfection. Right before the trade deadline, they won three out of four games against the Toronto Blue Jays; in the middle of August, they took two out of three games from the Seattle Mariners before returning the favor against their American League West rivals, defeating the Houston Astros twice.

A mini two-game series was held against the Boston Red Sox after that, and the Orioles swept their AL East rivals. But he Red Sox, along with the Astros, would get their revenge the following week when the teams would face off again, which sent Baltimore into a tailspin. They lost nine of their next 11 games, also getting demolished by the resurgent San Francisco Giants.

However, the Orioles were back to their spoiling ways this week. They faced off with the San Diego Padres, who are now having pressure put on them in the NL Wild Card race by the New York Mets and Giants. Baltimore is responsible for that, sweeping the Padres at Petco Park.

The final blow was delivered to San Diego by an incredible power surge in the top of the third inning by the Orioles. After Ryan Mountcastle walked to begin the inning and Emmanuel Rivera singled to get two guys on, Nestor Cortes was able to strike out Dylan Carlson. Alas, that would be the last out the veteran lefty would record in the game.

Orioles Trio Makes Franchise History With Home Runs