Record 93–69 (.574) | Divisional place 2nd | |
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The Baltimore Orioles' 2012 season was the 112th season in franchise history, the 59th in Baltimore, and the 21st at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They completed the regular season with a 93-69 record, good for second place in the AL East and qualified for one of two American League wild card spots. It was the first time since 1997 that they finished with a winning record and made the playoffs. They subsequently defeated the Texas Rangers in the inaugural one-game Wild Card Playoff. They advanced to play the New York Yankees in the Division Series, but lost the series to the Yankees in five games.
Contents
December
January
February
March
Regular season
On May 6, the Orioles won a marathon 17-inning game over the Boston Red Sox with the pitching win credited to designated hitter Chris Davis. After the Orioles bullpen was exhausted Davis came on to pitch two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, becoming the first American League position player to record a pitching win since 1968. Boston DH Darnell McDonald took the loss, making it the first game since 1902 in which both pitchers of record were position players.
The Orioles clinched their first non-losing season since 1997 on September 13, 2012, winning their 81st game on a walk-off single by Manny Machado in the bottom of the 14th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.
On September 26, 2012 the Orioles hit 7 home runs versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Nate McLouth solo in the 1st inning, Jim Thome lead off in the 5th, Manny Machado solo homer in the 5th and a two-run shot in the 8th, Chris Davis three-run homer in the 5th and a two-run homer in the 7th, Mark Reynolds two-run homer in the 6th.
Accolades
The following players represented the Orioles in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The following players received Gold Glove Awards for the 2012 MLB season
Wild Card Game
The Orioles took on the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas in the inaugural Wild Card "winner-take-all" format game for the right to play the New York Yankees in the 2012 American League Division Series, who are the top seed finishing with the best record in the AL at 95-67. The Orioles defeated Texas, 5-1, to win their first postseason game since 1997 and to advance to play the Yankees with the first two games in Baltimore.
In the end, Jim Johnson finished the Rangers off in the 9th despite them giving Baltimore a scare on having the bases loaded and two down. However, Johnson got David Murphy to fly out to Nate McLouth. Unlikely hero Joe Saunders picked up his first ever win at Rangers Stadium, where he was 0-6 with a 9.38 ERA in six career starts.
Division Series
The Orioles next played the New York Yankees in the Division Series, which they lost in five games.
Game 1, October 7
6:07 p.m. (EDT) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland (moved to 8:47 p.m. EDT due to rain delay)
Game 2, October 8
8:07 p.m. (EDT) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland (moved to 8:47 p.m. EDT due to rain delay)
Game 3, October 10
7:37 p.m. (EDT) at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
Game 4, October 11
7:37 p.m. (EDT) at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
Game 5, October 12
5:07 p.m. (EDT) at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
Record vs. opponents
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts