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Baltimore Orioles Get Support From Unlikely Sources

By Nate Wardle

Sep 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim (25) shakes hands with relief pitcher Zach Britton as they celebrate a 3-2 win over Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim (25) shakes hands with relief pitcher Zach Britton as they celebrate a 3-2 win over Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Wednesday night, the Baltimore Orioles were very close to dead in the playoff race. They weren’t dead and got some help from unlikely sources.

The Baltimore Orioles were down 2-0 to the Toronto Blue Jays; the offense was struggling, and it was the eighth inning. But, Mark Trumbo hit a solo home run to put the team on the board and give them some life.

The bottom of the inning was an adventure, and Brian Duensing came in and got the last out to end the eighth.

When Hyun Soo Kim hit a pivotal two-run home run off Blue Jays’ closer Roberto Osuna, the Orioles were in the lead. By the time Zach Britton closed it out, Duensing had his first win of the year, and Kim another big hit.

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Then came Thursday. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed the first two batters to reach, and you couldn’t help but wonder if it was going to be a long game.Instead, Ubaldo didn’t allow another hit, went 6 2/3 of an inning and earned himself a fantastic victory.

Joe Angel reported an impressive stat Thursday night on the radio broadcast. In September, only two pitchers have a lower batting average against than Ubaldo. They are Jon Lester and Ariel Miranda.

Let’s not linger on that. So it has been the past two nights, in arguably the team’s two biggest games of the year. Sure, they all are big. But the two wins against the Jays were huge in putting the Orioles firmly in the playoff race.

Michael Bourn played a significant role, bringing a speed element to the team that they were sorely missing. Nolan Reimold also played a vital part in the game on Wednesday, making several great defensive plays to keep the Orioles close.

Donnie Hart has been fantastic out of the bullpen, showing he can not only get out left-handers but righties as well.

To recap, the Orioles have a guy that wasn’t even expected to be in the major leagues in Duensing. They also have a guy no one wanted in the majors to start the year in Kim. They have a guy everyone wanted the team to get rid of in Ubaldo.

The Orioles have a guy the team acquired at the deadline, a guy everyone always wants the Orioles to get rid of, and a pitcher few had probably ever heard of coming into the season.

Remarkable isn’t it?

Next: Washington Wizards: Getting Goofy

The Baltimore Orioles are now just a few games away from the playoffs. Who will step up to help clinch a wild card berth?

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