Tied at the Top....The American League East

[DCPatriot]

Rays down struggling Yankees 5-2, AL East tied



T. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Evan Longoria hit a go-ahead homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat New York 5-2 on Tuesday night to drop the struggling Yankees into a tie for first place in the AL East.

Coupled with Baltimore's 12-0 win at Toronto, the Yankees fell into a tie for the division lead with the surging Orioles after sitting atop the standings by themselves for 84 consecutive days - New York's longest streak since 2004.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/09/04/42524/index.html


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Orioles grab share of AL East lead with win

TORONTO (AP) -- Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer, Zach Britton pitched seven innings to win his fourth straight start and the Baltimore Orioles moved into a first-place tie in the AL East with a 12-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Baltimore's third consecutive victory coupled with the Yankees' loss at Tampa Bay gave the Orioles a share of first place in September for the first time since 1997, the last time they won the division and advanced to the playoffs.

Reynolds went 3 for 4 with four RBIs as the Orioles pounded out a season-high 18 hits.

Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to face the Blue Jays, Britton (5-1) allowed four hits and improved to 4-0 with a 0.94 ERA in four starts since his last loss on Aug. 1 against New York. The left-hander struck out eight and walked two, one intentional.

Kevin Gregg worked the eighth and Zach Phillips finished for the Orioles, who have won three straight and 21 of 29.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/09/04/42515/index.html

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[DCPatriot]

When the Democrat Convention gets to be too much....there's a pennant race going on!

Orioles have won 21 of 29.....and I hope I just didn't put a curse on them.   

[Oceander]

The Rays spanked the Yankees again?

[DCPatriot]

The Orioles spanked the Yankees 10-6 in Baltimore tonight as they opened a four game series that could figure heavily in any tie-breaker down the road.

Their season series is now 8-7 Orioles.

The O's were up 6-1 and the Yankees chipped their way back with a big 8th inning.

The Orioles answered with 3 homeruns for a 4 run 8th.

Johnson pitched the ninth inning.  I don't think it was a save situation was it?

[DCPatriot]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/09/06/42540/index.html#recap







Orioles hit 6 HRs in 10-6 win over Yankees

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Mark Reynolds hit two of Baltimore's season-high six home runs, and the Orioles climbed back into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the AL East by defeating New York 10-6 Thursday night before a euphoric sellout crowd at Camden Yards.

Adam Jones ' leadoff homer in the eighth inning off David Robertson (1-6) put Baltimore ahead 7-6 after the Yankees rallied from a five-run deficit in the top half. Matt Wieters followed with a single and Reynolds hit a drive into the left-field seats. Chris Davis then slammed the first pitch from Derek Lowe over the right-field wall.

Wieters and Robert Andino also connected for the Orioles, who have won 10 of 13 - a run that includes three of four over New York.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2012/09/06/42540/index.html#recap#ixzz25kT9h75D

[DCPatriot]

DID YOU KNOW.........?


....that after a month since this thread was initiated, the Yankees and O's are still tied at the top of the standings for the pennant chase?


....that the Orioles and Yankees may end up playing a ONE GAME ELIMINATION playoff this Thursday, 10/4/12?

...that the LOSER of that game plays a ONE GAME PLAYOFF with the other 'wild card' team...to see who advances into a best of 5 series against THE TOP SEED Division winner.  (currently the Texas Rangers)

The AL EAST winner....if they are NOT the top seed in the league standings will play the other division winner....currently the Central Division (projected) winner...the Detroit Tigers.



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Therefore, would you rather win the division outright, but not maintain the overall best W-L record, so that you don't have to play the Rangers? 

[jmyrlefuller]

....that the Orioles and Yankees may end up playing a ONE GAME ELIMINATION playoff this Thursday, 10/4/12?

Now wait just a moment. I thought, when it came down to division races, that they had tiebreakers to avoid the one-game playoffs if both will qualify anyway. I remember they did this not too long ago when the Yanks and the Red Sox both qualified for the playoffs-- the Yankees had a one-game edge in head-to-head and got the division title, with no one-game playoff.

Do the tiebreakers not apply here, or did that rule change?

[DCPatriot]

Now wait just a moment. I thought, when it came down to division races, that they had tiebreakers to avoid the one-game playoffs if both will qualify anyway. I remember they did this not too long ago when the Yanks and the Red Sox both qualified for the playoffs-- the Yankees had a one-game edge in head-to-head and got the division title, with no one-game playoff.

Do the tiebreakers not apply here, or did that rule change?

They are tied in head to head matchups.....nine apiece.

The next item that would determine who has home field advantage in the one game elimination is W-L record in the AL East.  The Orioles win that one.


I was just wondering if it's better to be the wildcard here or the division winner.

I would rather play Detroit than Texas.

[DCPatriot]

Damn Yankees!     

[Oceander]

Damn Yankees!     

We from the South have been saying that for generations!